How much was a US senator's yearly salary?
A US senator's yearly salary was $42,500 in 1970 and $174,000 in 2025: about 4.1 times as much.
Over the same years, prices in general (US inflation, measured by the consumer price index, CPI) rose about 8.3 times. That makes $42,500 in 1970 worth about $353,000 in 2025 money. So it did not keep up with prices in general: it buys about 51% less than in 1970.
The biggest change between two listed years came between 1985 and 1995, when it went up 78%, from $75,100 to $133,600.
Senator salary: price by year
| Year | Amount | In 2025 dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | $42,500 | $353,000 |
| 1980 | $60,662 | $237,000 |
| 1985 | $75,100 | $225,000 |
| 1995 | $133,600 | $282,000 |
| 2000 | $141,300 | $264,000 |
| 2005 | $162,100 | $267,000 |
| 2025 | $174,000 | $174,000 |
"In 2025 dollars" adjusts each amount for inflation with the CPI, so the years can be compared fairly. How this works.
Where the numbers come from
Set by law. From the US Senate Historical Office's history of Senate salaries.
Source: United States Senate (Senate Historical Office): Senate Salaries (1789 to Present). View the source.
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