To be employed by a Senate employing office in a paid position in the continental United States an individual must:
1. Be a U.S. citizen;
2. Be lawfully admitted for permanent residence and seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)(B);
3. Be (i) admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157 or granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. § 1158 and (ii) have filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible; or
4. Owe allegiance to the U.S. (i.e., qualify as a non-citizen U.S. national under federal law).
Background checks may be conducted at the discretion of the Senate employing office. Additional requirements may apply based on the position and whether a security clearance must be obtained.
It is the job seeker’s responsibility to ensure that they meet one of these requirements to be eligible for Senate employment.
Please see our frequently asked questions below.
Employment Terms and Benefits
Yes. Senate staff are excepted service federal employees under the legislative branch of government. Click here to learn about excepted service.
Each Senate office is an independent employer, responsible for determining their own hiring policies, job requirements, compensation, benefits, and conditions of employment.
Employment is usually at-will, meaning that employment is at the mutual consent of the employee and their employer and may be terminated by either party at any time, with or without cause, provided that such termination does not violate the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA), as amended.
Listed below are benefits typically available to Senate employees: *
11 federal holidays and annual leave accruals;
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), employer-matching contributions;
Federal Student Loan Repayment Program;
Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance;
Flexible Spending Accounts;
Employee Assistance Program;
Training and wellness programs; and
Transit or parking benefit.
Relocation expenses will not be covered.
* Policies and benefits are subject to change at the discretion of the Senate employing office.
The Senate Employment Office does not handle employee benefits. Senate staff may contact the Disbursing Office for more information.
The Senate does not adhere to the Office of Personnel Management’s General Schedule (GS). Instead, each Senate office can independently set their own compensation schedule and benefits. To learn about Senate staff salaries, please read the Congressional Research Service’s reports on Staff Pay Levels for select positions in Senators’ Offices and Senate Committees.
Senate employees are paid semi-monthly (twice a month). Senate staff may contact the Disbursing Office for more information.
No. Although some Senate hiring managers may indicate a preference for applicants with prior internship or work experience in a congressional office, this is not a blanket requirement. If prior Hill experience is required, this will be specified in the vacancy announcement.
Professional and senior staff vacancies–particularly communications or legislative roles–are the positions most likely to require prior Hill experience. These professional staff are not only expected to be knowledgeable in their policy portfolio, but must also demonstrate a deep understanding of the Senate’s legislative process and procedures.
Meanwhile, prior Hill experience may be valued, but not required, in other supporting roles such as junior staff (entry- or mid-level) positions or administrative staff. For these positions, offices may consider applicants with other experience relevant to the position’s responsibilities.
There is usually no requirement for candidates to have been employed with the federal government. Members of the general public who meet the Senate’s employment eligibility criteria may apply for any vacancy posted to the Senate Employment Bulletin.
No. You may apply to work for any Senate office that is of interest to you. However, entry-level individuals and state office applicants are highly encouraged to apply to offices where they have a strong state or regional connection. Senate offices often look to fill these constituent-focused positions with staff who have strong ties to their state. Your strongest state ties may include places where you have lived, studied, worked, or were stationed while in the military.
Due to the political nature of the Senate, hiring managers often look for applicants who exemplify the political and ideological interests of their Senator. Applicants should consider their personal preferences and body of experience, as well as a Senator’s policy priorities to find offices where their interests best align.
When a sitting senator dies or resigns before the end of the term of office, employees of the senator’s office are continued on the Senate payroll at their respective salaries for up to 60 days. Employee duties during that 60-day period are performed under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate.
When a sitting senator’s term ends due to loss in a general election, employees of the senator’s office who are certified as “displaced staff members” are continued on the Senate payroll at their respective salaries for up to 60 days, or until they obtain gainful employment, whichever occurs earlier.
Please work with the hiring manager and the Senate Disbursing Office to ensure that you do not have a break in service and to receive credit for your years of federal service.
Opportunities and Work Environment
Most personal office staff positions are based in Washington, DC. However, every senator also has one or more state or regional office locations. While personal office staff may have many responsibilities, their primary job function will typically fall within one of four areas of operations: administrative, legislative, communications, and constituent services.
The majority, if not all committee staff positions are also based in Washington, DC. Most administrative positions will be non-designated, serving both the Majority and Minority staff equally. Meanwhile, policy and communications positions will likely be under the direction of the Chair, Ranking Member, or other Member on the committee.
Please visit our Position Descriptions resource for more information.
A limited number of nonpartisan opportunities may be available in committee offices. Most of these positions are administrative and serve the Majority and Minority staff equally. Certain committees may also have a limited number of nonpartisan professional staff opportunities. Visit our Position Descriptions resource and the committee’s website to learn more.
Please note that some nonpartisan offices require that staff be impartial in appearance as well as in fact. Therefore, active public participation in political matters, through employment, advocacy, campaign involvement, or social media, may be regarded as a disqualification for employment. In some instances, nonpartisan offices may prefer applicants who have not had prior experience on the Hill or in advocacy.
Offices within the Senate Sergeant at Arms and Secretary of the Senate provide operational assistance or support to Senate offices and staff. These organizations are nonpartisan and employ individuals from a variety of occupations, including acquisitions, administrative support, counseling, cybersecurity, facilities maintenance, graphic design, human resources, information technology, photography, telecommunications, training, and more.
Other nonpartisan legislative branch opportunities can be found here. The Senate Employment Office does not conduct employment activities for these organizations.
Each Senate office determines its own policies and procedures. While many Senate offices have returned to working in-person in Washington, DC, some offices still offer hybrid or remote work opportunities. Please be aware that office policies are at the discretion of the senator and their senior staff.
The Senate is a historic political institution enshrined in tradition. Much of the Senate’s official business is conducted in-person on Capitol Hill. However, senators frequently return to work from their home state when the Senate is in recess. Staff in Washington, DC support their senator’s legislative and oversight obligations, while state-based staff provide constituents with federal agency assistance and develop relationships with members of the community.
Each Senate office operates like an independently-run business. Therefore, every office has its own policies and unique culture. The three Senate Office Buildings in Washington, DC are Hart, Dirksen, and Russell. While floor plans may vary, offices are usually designed with an open concept, so staff can expect to work in close quarters with little expectation of privacy. This cultivates an atmosphere where teamwork and collaboration are valued.
The Senate floor schedule can often be unpredictable. Work often requires extended and unscheduled hours, and staff are expected to prioritize and perform duties in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. Successful staff are often flexible and entrepreneurial, and demonstrate a high level of professionalism and discretion. Please review announcements on the Senate Employment Bulletin to learn about other skills or competencies required of Senate staff.
Although the House and Senate collectively make the Congress, each chamber carries out different constitutional obligations. Outlined below, are some of the differences between House and Senate offices.
Congressmen/Congresswomen represent their district of approximately 700,000 constituents and face reelection every two years. Although there are a greater number of House offices, staff levels in each office are much smaller than in the Senate. As a result, House legislative staff may have broader policy portfolios and additional responsibilities. However, House staff frequently move among offices and can progress rapidly in their careers.
Senators represent their entire state and are elected to serve longer, six-year terms. Although there are only 100 senators, personal offices typically employ between 40-100 staff. Since Senate staff levels are significantly higher than in the House, policy staff are able to specialize in narrower portfolios. There is usually less staff turnover in the Senate, and professional staff positions typically require advanced education and more experience with the policy portfolio.
HouseLower Chamber | SenateUpper Chamber | |
Members | – 435 Members– Number of representatives is determined by state population | – 100 senators– Two senators per state, regardless of population |
Representation | – 50 states– District of Columbia and U.S. territories (nonvoting) | – 50 states |
Term length | – Two-year terms– All Members up for reelection every two years | – Six-year terms– Staggered terms, 1/3 of senators up for reelection every two years |
Staff levels | – Approximately 10,000 staff– Member offices: limited to ~18 full-time and four part-time staff; across DC and District offices– CRS House Staff Levels | – Approximately 5,000 staff– Member offices: staff levels vary based on seniority, budget, leadership, etc.– CRS Senate Staff Levels |