How Much Does the President of the United States Get Paid?

At some point, you've probably thought to yourself, "How much does the president make?" The solution, though, might surprise you.

The job of the President of the United States is not a standard 9 to 5 one. You work a lot of hours, have a lot of obligations, and are typically the center of attention. After being elected, the president essentially works nonstop for four years. As a result, they will earn more money each year than the average American worker. But what is the president's salary? Even while it's a lot, it might not be as much as one might think given the amount of labor they do. Additionally, take a look at some presidential firsts you probably weren't aware of.

What is the president's salary?

Donald Trump, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush have all been elected presidents and each receives a salary of $400,000. The president also gets a $50,000 spending allotment each year. Additionally, they are given free access to the White House's housing, transportation, and health services, all of which are overseen by the private medical team that works there. That naturally places their position in the top 1% of annual salaries.

How much money did former presidents earn?

There have been five compensation increases since the first president was chosen in 1789; the most recent was in 2001. Although it would appear that prior presidents didn't make a lot of money, if you account for inflation, the money from 1789 would be significantly more valuable now. Check out these undiscovered skills of 24 American presidents.

• 1789: $25,000
• 1873: $50,000
• 1909: $75,000
• 1949: $100,000
• 1969: $200,000
• 2001: $400,000

What do they do with their pay?

Since many of the candidates for president are already affluent, they won't really need a salary to get by if they are elected. Some of the more affluent presidents have made the decision to give all or a portion of their income. President Trump has given the National Park Service and the Department of Homeland Security a fourth of his annual pay as president. (He continues to profit from his hotels and other real estate.)

What changes have been made to the president's pay over time?

From George Washington through Ulysses S. Grant, the first eighteen presidents made a salary of $25,000 each.

The inflation calculator estimates that in 2013 dollars, the value of this income in real terms decreased from $840,365 in 1788 to $623,270 in 1873, when Congress passed the first rise in presidential pay history.

Who received a pay boost as the first president?

Ulysses S. Grant became the first president to get a raise while in office when the annual pay increased to $50,000 in 1873. This income was received by presidents from Ulysses S. Grant to Theodore Roosevelt, and between 1873 and 1909, its worth climbed from $1.2 million to $1.6 million in current dollars.

For the second time, the president's pay is increasing in value.

The following raise occurred in 1909 when Congress authorized a salary of $75,000 at that time. This annual compensation, which was shared by Presidents William H. Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Harry S. Truman, decreased in value from $1.6 million to $931,000 in 1948 after Truman's election.

Harry Truman became the second president to get a pay boost while in office when Congress increased the yearly salary to $100,000 in 1949. A $100,000 salary was also paid to presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson; by the time Johnson took office, it had decreased in value from $1.2 million to $859,600.

The following increase, which doubled to $20,000 and was implemented in 1969, was the biggest one up to that date. This pay, which was worth $1.5 million in 1970 but only $359,147 in today's currencies by 1999, was received by Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton.

The salaries of Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden were quadrupled by Congress in 2000, bringing their total compensation to $400,000. However, due to inflation eating away at the value of the dollar, this wage in 2000 was equivalent to $694,936 today when it is now closer to $408,000.

What a few former leaders did following their terms in office

Although it's difficult to replace the US President, many people who leave the position don't want to retire. The following is a list of some former presidents' recent accomplishments.

Obama, Barack

Before becoming president, Barack Obama made $157,000 a year as a U.S. Senator, which increased to $400,000 a year as president. Prior to that, according to Celebrity Net Worth, Michelle Obama was the family's main provider, bringing approximately $247,000 from her work as an attorney.

The Obamas both agreed to $60 million publication deals for their autobiographies in 2017. They are thought to be worth $70 million and have residences in both Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C.

George W. Bush,

George W. Bush received a book deal after leaving the White House but was reportedly only paid $10 million for it. In 2010, his autobiography "Decision Points" was released.

He also wrote the books "A Charge to Keep," "We will prevail: President George W. Bush on War, Terrorism, and Freedom," and other books. Books like "41: A Portrait of My Father" and "George W. Bush on God and on Country: The President Speaks Out About Faith, Principle, and Patriotism" A collection of his speeches is available in The George W. Bush Foreign Policy Reader: Presidential Speeches with Commentary.

Clinton, Bill

Like many other former presidents, Bill Clinton sought to construct his presidential library and attended numerous speaking engagements after leaving the White House. But unlike any other former president in history, he was also heavily involved in his wife's 2016 presidential bid.

Bill Clinton also penned a book after leaving the White House titled "Between Hope and History," and it is said that he received $14 million in payment for it. Three further non-fiction books he has authored since then are titled "My Life," "Giving," and "Back to Work."

In addition, Clinton wrote two fiction works with New York Times bestselling novelist James Patterson. Both of the political suspense novels "The President is Missing" and "The President's Daughter" were bestsellers according to the New York Times.

George H. W. Bush, 

Some former presidents have enough wealth to support themselves after leaving office.

After serving as president for four years, George H. W. Bush returned to the private sector by serving on the boards of two local hospitals and volunteering at a church. Along with Bill Clinton, he established his presidential library and museum and contributed money for disaster relief in Asia. Additionally, he ran campaigns for his sons Jeb Bush and George W. Bush.

Carter, Jimmy

Carter is an odd ex-president in addition to being an unusual president. His post-White House life has been devoted to advancing humanitarian and human rights objectives.

He works as a conspicuous volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, a group that constructs homes for the less fortunate. Carter can be seen hammering nails and painting walls, while other former presidents use their reputation to solicit donations and deliver speeches.

After leaving office, Carter wrote "Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President," "Turning Point," and "An Hour Before Daylight."

Takeaway

Since serving as president of the United States demands selfless devotion to the nation, it makes sense that some former presidents are generously compensated for sharing their knowledge, especially given the minimal compensation. Ex-presidents can take advantage of their unique status by writing books, making speeches, and working for philanthropic organizations.