Legislative staffer is a general occupational term used to
describe occupations that aid state and federal legislative
branches, such as congress and the senate, regardless of their
partisan or nonpartisan affiliation. The lowest ranking job to the
highest seat short of legislator can be considered a legislative
staffer. Within the rankings, there are partisan legislative
staffers and nonpartisan legislative staffers. Partisan and
nonpartisan staffers have two separate functions.
A partisan legislative staffer is chosen by their party, house
or legislator. Partisan staffers are employed to work on whatever
their legislator wishes for them to do. This means a partisan
legislative staffer may research, compose information or documents
for their legislators, work with media outlets, work as lawyers for
their party, house or legislator, and work as an aide or committee
staff.
A nonpartisan staffer is not employed by their house, party, or
legislator and instead works as a civil service employee in
politically inactive legislative offices that deal with anything
from research to the state or federal budget. These offices include
the Office of Fiscal Analysis, the Office of Legislative research,
and the Legislative Commissioners Office.
There are many job titles, which fall under the legislative
staffer umbrella. Legislative staffers may also be called
legislative director, legislative coordinator, legislative
assistant, senior legislative assistant and caseworker. However,
anyone who works for a legislator, as well as a congressional or
senatorial house in any way can be considered a legislative
staffer.
The job requirements for a legislative staffer varies
considerably, due to the myriad of job titles a staffer can be
given. However, experience and education are both needed regardless
of the position. Experience in the legislative process, for at
least a year, is a requirement. Often, qualifications include some
sort of supervisory duty, or management, in addition to computer
proficiency, computer experience, and written and oral
communication skills. The minimum education, for a legislative
staffer, is a Bachelors degree. However, a specific subject is
usually not required. The reason for employment requirements
lacking a specific degree subject is two fold. It is essential for
there to be legislative staffers, who have knowledge in one or more
different areas. Different degrees allow a group of staffers to be
well balanced and knowledgeable. While this is true, degrees in
Political Science, Social Science, Economics, Business, English,
Social Work and Finance are a plus in the political world. Aside
from a Bachelors degree, some legislative employers prefer higher
up legislative staffers to have a law degree, as well.
Salary for legislative staffers varies depending on the job and
its duties. The potential salary for a Legislative Assistant may be
as low as $30,000, for the United States Congressional Houses. The
starting salary for a Chief of Staff could reach $120,000.
Therefore, it is necessary to look at each state and federal
legislative branch separately in order to obtain the most recent
and factual information.
