Base salaries for public affairs executives in DC don't stack up to the compensation earned by their counterparts in Fortune 500s around the country. According to a survey conducted by DC-based Hay Management Consultants on behalf of the Foundation for Public Affairs, the average DC public affairs exec pulls in $177,961 annually, and the average legislative counsel/lobbyist makes $106,031. By comparison, their counterparts in the Fortune 500 command as much as $270,000 and $200,000, respectively, according to research from the Public Affairs Group. (Foundation for PA, 202/872-1750; PAG, 202/463-3766).
Power, Not Money?
