Dr. Anthony Fauci is the nation’s highest paid federal employee raking in an annual salary of $417,608 in 2019, the latest year federal salary data is available.
The nation’s top infectious disease expert, 80, is not only the highest paid doctor in the federal government but the highest paid employee out of four million federal staffers.
In the pandemic Fauci became the face of the White House Coronavirus Task Force and according to salary data, made more than his peers in 2019.
Vice President Mike Pence, who outranks Fauci in authority, made $235,100 salary in 2019, meanwhile Dr. Deborah Birx earned $305,972 in 2019.
Dr. Anthony Fauci is the nation’s highest paid federal employee raking in $417,608 in 2019, the latest year federal salary data is available
Fauci’s salary even surpassed the $400,000 pay of the president. Donald Trump did not accept the presidential salary and instead wrote checks equal to a quarter of his salary each quarter to various government agencies.
The salary data was collected by OpenTheBooks.com via Freedom of Information Act requests, which included federal employees whose salaries are funded by taxpayers.
On the list the highest paid federal government employees are medical and dental officers.
In other branches of government, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will earn $223,500 this year, US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will make $270,700 and House an Representatives and Senators will make $174,000. Four-star military generals will make $268,000 a year, all less than Fauci, according to Forbes.
Fauci’s salary even surpassed the $400,000 pay of the president. Donald Trump did not accept the presidential salary and instead gave it out to various government agencies instead of keeping it for himself
In the pandemic Fauci became the face of the White House Coronavirus Task Force and according to salary data, made more than his peers in 2019. Vice President Mike Pence (left), who outranks Fauci in authority, made $235,100 salary in 2019, meanwhile Dr. Deborah Birx (right) earned $305,972 in 2019
In the 10-year period from 2010 to 2019 Fauci made $3.6million in salary. In 2014 Fauci’s pay increased from $335,000 to its current $417,608.
If Fauci remains as Director of the National Institute for Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and current Chief Medical Advisor to the President he’ll make a whopping $2.5million from 2019 through 2024 – that is, if he doesn’t get a raise.
In an August 13 interview with actor Matthew McConaughey Fauci was asked if he had millions of dollars invested in COVID vaccines.
Fauci said with a laugh: ‘Matthew, no, I got zero! I am a government worker. I have a government salary.’
Meanwhile CDC scientist Dr. Stephen Lindstrom, who was in charge of overseeing the CDC COVID-19 testing system, made just $108,747 in basic pay, an additional $23,533 in adjusted pay, and an ‘award’of $750 in 2019.
In other branches of government, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will earn $223,500 this year, nearly half of what Fauci makes
The Executive Branch includes 2.1million federal agency employees, 1.4million members of the military and 500,000 postal employees.
Federal employee salaries are typically called at a certain level, under IV of the Executive Schedule, which was $172,500 in 2019, which will rise by 2.6 percent in 2020.
However, there are exceptions to the rule – as with Fauci. This is likely because the federal government has to compete with private sector medicine when it comes to doctor and scientist salaries.
Fauci has a medical degree from Cornell University. He started his 53-year career at the NIG in 1968 and has advised every president since President Ronald Reagan. In 2008, President George W. Bush honored him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor.
Polls show he’s the most trusted public figure in the US for information on the COVID-19 pandemic.