The Allegheny County Council salary is $10,939 a year, a flat figure paid in equal biweekly installments to all 15 members regardless of meeting attendance. Members in leadership roles receive additional stipends on top of that base. The position is part-time, and most council members hold other jobs.
Leadership Stipends
Three roles carry extra pay under the Administrative Code. The Council President receives an additional $5,000 per year, bringing total compensation to $15,939. The Chair of the Committee on Budget and Finance and the Minority Leader each receive an extra $2,500, for a total of $13,439.1Allegheny County. Allegheny County Code – Administrative Code
These stipends are fixed. They do not adjust based on hours worked or meetings attended. The President presides over regular sessions, breaks procedural ties, and acts as the primary liaison to the County Executive’s office.
Expense Reimbursements
Beyond salary, council members can be reimbursed for expenses tied to official duties. The Home Rule Charter caps reimbursements at $3,000 per member per year, and that cap can be raised by ordinance by no more than five percent every five years.2Allegheny County. Government Review Commission Final Approval
Eligible expenses generally cover travel to official meetings or site visits, professional development, and office supplies used for constituent communication. Mileage reimbursement typically follows the IRS standard rate, which for 2026 is 72.5 cents per mile for business travel.3Internal Revenue Service. Standard Mileage Rates Updated for 2026 Members submit receipts and documentation, and reimbursement totals for each official are public record.
How the $10,939 Salary Was Set
For most of the council’s history, members were not paid a salary. They received per-meeting stipends that only reached the annual cap if they attended nearly every session, so a member who missed meetings simply earned less. The original Home Rule Charter set that cap at $9,000, adjustable by ordinance by up to five percent every five years.2Allegheny County. Government Review Commission Final Approval
In November 2023, voters approved a charter amendment replacing that per-meeting structure with the current flat $10,939 annual salary. The amendment carried the same five-percent-every-five-years ceiling forward.4Allegheny County Council. File 12638-23 Council Salary Charter Amendment The amount is codified at § 5-303.04 of the Administrative Code.1Allegheny County. Allegheny County Code – Administrative Code
Can the Council Raise Its Own Pay?
Not for themselves. Section 1.3-307 of the Home Rule Charter lets the council set its compensation by ordinance, but any increase cannot take effect until the next council terms begin following the next regular election.5General Code. Home Rule Charter of Allegheny County A sitting member voting for a raise is voting for the next winners of those seats.
The five-percent-every-five-years cap sits on top of that timing rule. At the current salary, the maximum increase in any five-year window works out to roughly $547. Between the delayed implementation and the hard ceiling, council pay is among the most tightly constrained of any legislative body in the Pittsburgh region.