You’d think being the second-in-command of the most powerful nation on earth would come with a paycheck that looks like a phone number. Honestly, it’s a bit of a shocker for most people when they see the actual line item on the federal budget. While Silicon Valley tech leads and mid-tier hedge fund managers are pulling in seven figures, the person a heartbeat away from the presidency is working with a much more "earthly" salary.
So, how much do the vice president make exactly?
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Right now, in 2026, the Vice President of the United States earns a set salary of $235,100.
If that sounds oddly specific, it’s because it is. But there is a huge catch that most people miss when they look at government pay scales. While the official "Executive Schedule" might list a higher number for the VP—sometimes pushing toward $300,000 in projected adjustments—Congress has effectively frozen the payable salary for the Vice President (and several other top officials) since 2019.
Basically, the VP is stuck in a bit of a legislative time warp. Even as inflation does its thing and the cost of living in D.C. skyrockets, that $235,100 figure has stayed stubborn.
The Breakdown of the Vice President Paycheck
It isn't just a flat base salary and a "good luck" from the Treasury. The compensation package is a mix of taxable income, expense accounts, and some pretty wild perks that you can't really put a price tag on.
The $20,000 Expense Account
On top of the base salary, the Vice President gets a $20,000 annual expense allowance. This is meant to cover costs related to official duties. You can't just use it for a personal vacation or a new jet ski, but for the "discharge of official duties," it's there. Interestingly, according to 3 U.S. Code § 111, the VP doesn't have to provide a detailed accounting of this money to the government, though it remains taxable as income.
Living at Number One Observatory Circle
When we talk about how much do the vice president make, we have to talk about the "housing benefit." Since 1974, the VP hasn't had to worry about a mortgage. They live at Number One Observatory Circle, a stunning 19th-century house on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory.
It’s not the White House, but it’s close.
The Navy actually handles the maintenance and the staffing. Imagine having the Secretary of the Navy technically in charge of making sure your utilities are paid and the grass is mowed. That's a massive "hidden" part of the compensation that saves a person tens of thousands of dollars a year in D.C. real estate costs.
Comparing the VP to Other Big Earners
It’s kinda funny to see where the VP sits in the Washington hierarchy.
- The President: Makes $400,000 (plus a $50,000 expense account).
- The Chief Justice: Earns roughly $320,700.
- Associate Justices: Pull in about $306,600.
- The Vice President: $235,100.
Yep, the VP actually makes less than every single person sitting on the Supreme Court. They also make less than the Speaker of the House, who currently earns about $223,500 but often has more direct legislative leverage.
The Weird World of the Pay Freeze
You might be wondering why the salary hasn't moved. It’s politics, mostly.
Every year, there’s an "Executive Order on Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay." For 2026, the official schedule technically puts the VP's "unfrozen" rate at much higher—around $292,300. But because of a provision in the annual appropriations bill, the actual payable amount is capped.
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Congress basically uses the VP's salary as a political signal. Raising your own pay (or the VP's) is bad optics during an election cycle, so they just keep kicking the can down the road. This means that in "real dollars," the Vice President is actually making significantly less than they were five or ten years ago when adjusted for inflation.
Life After the Naval Observatory
What happens when the term ends? The "pension" question is where things get really nuanced.
There isn't a specific "Vice Presidential Pension" in the way there is a "Presidential Pension" (established by the Former Presidents Act). Instead, the VP’s retirement is usually tied to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or the older Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), depending on when they first entered public service.
Most Vice Presidents were Senators or House members before taking the job. Their time as VP counts as "years of service" toward a congressional pension.
Because the formula is based on their "high-three" average salary and years of service, the VP stint usually bumps their eventual retirement check significantly. But they don't get the $200k+ annual pension that former Presidents get unless they actually served in the Oval Office.
Is it Really About the Money?
Let’s be real: nobody runs for Vice President for the $235k.
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The real value of the position is the E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) you build for the rest of your life. After leaving office, former VPs often command:
- Speaking Fees: Six figures for a single 45-minute keynote.
- Book Deals: Multi-million dollar advances for memoirs.
- Board Seats: High-paying positions on corporate boards of directors.
When you factor in the "post-game" earnings, the $235,100 salary is basically just a drop in the bucket. It's the ultimate platform for future wealth.
Actionable Insights: What This Means for You
Understanding the mechanics of how much do the vice president make is more than just trivia; it’s a look at how the U.S. government values leadership versus the private sector.
- Check the "Payable" vs. "Scheduled" Rate: If you're looking at government jobs, always check if there is a "pay freeze" in effect. The number on the chart isn't always the number on the check.
- Factor in the Perks: When evaluating any high-level career move, remember that the base salary is only about 60% of the story. Housing, security, and travel allowances are massive tax-free or subsidized benefits.
- Look at the Long Game: The VP role proves that sometimes the "base pay" is a loss leader for the massive "exit value" of a high-profile position.
For anyone tracking federal pay scales or considering a path in public service, keep an eye on the 2027 appropriations. If the freeze finally thaws, we could see a jump in VP pay that matches those higher "scheduled" numbers, finally closing the gap between the executive and judicial branches.