Karoline Leavitt is not your average 27-year-old. As the newly-minted White House Press Secretary – and the youngest in U.S. history – she’s commanding a salary that would make many seasoned politicos jealous. So, how much does Karoline Leavitt earn for wrangling the press each day?
According to official records and reports, Karoline Leavitt earns around $180,000 per year as White House Press Secretary. That puts her right up at the top pay bracket for White House staff.
In fact, her six-figure salary is on par with what her predecessor Karine Jean-Pierre made under President Biden. Not bad for someone who was in college just a few years ago!
This hefty paycheck firmly places Leavitt among the highest-paid government communications officials.
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The White House press secretary role is classified as an “Assistant to the President” position – fancy speak for big responsibility and big pay. The current max salary for many top White House aides is about $180K, and Ms. Leavitt is cashing the full check.
As a comparison, President Biden’s 2022 staff salary report showed 24 staffers (including the press secretary) at that maximum $180,000 annual salary. In other words, Leavitt’s making as much as the White House Chief of Staff and other heavy hitters.
What’s the Average Salary for a Press Secretary?
Karoline Leavitt’s salary might raise eyebrows given her age, but it’s actually standard for the job. Here’s how her pay compares to others who’ve manned (and womanned) the White House briefing room:
- Karoline Leavitt (2025–present) – Approximately $180,000/year, Press Secretary under Trump).
- Karine Jean-Pierre (2022–2024) – $180,000/year, Press Secretary for Biden.
- Sean Spicer (2017) – $179,700/year, Trump’s first Press Secretary.
- Sarah Huckabee Sanders (2017–2019) – $165,000/year, Trump’s Press Secretary after Spicer.
- Kayleigh McEnany (2020–2021) – $183,000/year, Trump’s Press Secretary (salary by 2020).
In short, Leavitt’s pay is right in line with her predecessors – though being 27 makes her situation unique. For context, Ron Ziegler, press secretary to Nixon, was 29 when he took the podium, and even he made history for his youth back then! Leavitt now eclipses that record.
She’s officially the youngest ever White House Press Secretary, but she’s earning a paycheck like a Beltway veteran.
It’s also worth noting that not all communications roles pay this kind of money. White House Press Secretary is the pinnacle, but a few years ago Karoline Leavitt was making far less in other political communications jobs.
For example, during Trump’s first term she served as an assistant press secretary – a much more junior role that typically paid in the range of $50–$70K. One principal assistant press secretary role in the Trump White House was listed at about $58,200/year, a fraction of the top press sec salary.
And when she briefly worked on Capitol Hill as a communications director for Rep.
Elise Stefanik, her pay was modest too – roughly pro-rated ~$50K/year per congressional records. In other words, Leavitt’s climb to the top came with a big pay bump – possibly triple what she earned as a 22-year-old staffer.
Karoline Leavitt: Young, Ambitious and Making History
Karoline Leavitt’s rapid rise is nothing short of remarkable. At just 27, she’s shattered age records in Washington.
“Youngest White House press secretary in history”, check. “Highest-ranking Gen Z member in the federal executive branch“, check.
Her age and title alone have tongues wagging – this is a town where seniority often reigns, yet this Gen-Z phenom now speaks for the President.
Naturally, the internet has plenty to say about it. When Leavitt made her briefing room debut, social media lit up. “The new press secretary Karoline Leavitt is 27 years old (she looks 40), and is the youngest in this position. I won’t lie, she is sharp but also knows how to evade questions very cleverly,” one commenter quipped on X (formerly Twitter). Ouch – age is but a number, folks!
While the cheeky jab about her looking older got a laugh, even critics admit Leavitt is quick on her feet at the podium. Youth aside, she’s proving she can handle the notoriously brutal press corps – which might explain why Trump entrusted his messaging to someone barely born when he was first making real estate deals on TV.
Those who know Karoline Leavitt aren’t entirely surprised by her success. Hailing from New Hampshire, she was politically precocious – active in college Republican circles and even interned at the Trump White House. By 22, she was working under Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, getting a front-row education in media spin.
Former President (and current boss) Donald Trump certainly noticed her talents, gushing that “Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator” when he announced her promotion. In Trump’s book, she was worth every penny of that salary.
After a stint as Trump’s 2024 campaign press secretary, she earned the ultimate reward: the White House press secretary post – with the salary to match.
Not Your Average 20-Something
If Leavitt’s professional life is extraordinary, her personal life is equally headline-worthy. For one, she’s a new mom – she gave birth to a baby boy in July 2024. But in true go-getter form, she barely hit the brakes: she reportedly skipped much of her maternity leave after an attempt on Trump’s life made her feel she was needed back on duty.
How many 20-somethings do you know who’d rush back to work in the West Wing with a newborn at home? We told you she’s not average.
Then there’s Leavitt’s “atypical love story” that has the D.C. gossip mill buzzing. She is married to Nicholas “Nick” Riccio, a successful real estate developer – who happens to be more than 30 years her senior.
Yes, you read that right: she’s 27, he’s pushing 60. The age gap left many scratching their heads (and certainly provides plenty of cocktail party chatter). Leavitt herself has brushed off the May-December romance buzz, calling her marriage a private matter and focusing on her work.
Still, the pairing of a rising Gen Z politico with a baby boomer businessman has prompted endless tabloid-y fascination. It doesn’t hurt that Riccio is quite wealthy – which brings us to another point: Karoline’s finances.
Despite her youth, Karoline Leavitt’s net worth is reportedly around $6 million. How does a 27-year-old accumulate that?
Some savvy career moves and perhaps a well-heeled partner. According to reports, her personal wealth got a boost from her marriage (Riccio’s real estate success certainly doesn’t hurt) and some strategic investments. In fact, her husband even treated her to a huge, sparkling engagement ring “worth a fortune”.
With those kinds of assets in her back pocket, one might joke that Karoline’s government paycheck is just fun money. She could probably skip the salary and still pay the bills, but hey – $180K for doing what you love doesn’t hurt!
“I Love My Job” – And It’s Not (Just) About the Money
Despite the enviable paycheck and perks, Karoline Leavitt insists she’s in it for passion, not a fat bank balance. “I love my job – absolutely love it,” Leavitt gushed in a recent interview.
Appearing on The Megyn Kelly Show, she explained that she feels “very blessed to go through the gates of the White House” every day, describing the work as exhausting but amazing.
Clearly, this is someone who relishes the platform and responsibility. It’s a 24/7 gig, but she’s all in. As she put it, working for a president who delivers on promises “makes my job quite easy, actually”. It doesn’t hurt when that job also delivers a six-figure direct deposit to your bank account.
Colleagues say Leavitt would probably do the job for far less – she’s that ambitious and devoted. But for now, she doesn’t have to contemplate a pay cut. She’s earning top dollar to stand at that famous White House podium, juggling tough questions with a smile (and occasionally a sly dodge).
Even former Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany – whom Leavitt idolizes and has been compared to – had to be impressed; McEnany was 32 when she took the role, while Leavitt zoomed into it five years younger, with a salary to match her confidence.
Karoline Leavitt’s substantial salary as White House Press Secretary reflects both her critical responsibilities and the high value placed on effective presidential communications. Despite critiques about her age and rapid career progression, her compensation is consistent with historical standards, underscoring the importance and difficulty of her role. At 27, Leavitt stands out not just for her youth but for the professionalism and capability that justify her notable salary.
