The Ten Highest-Paid Government Jobs

3. Vice President: Joseph Biden

> Annual Base Salary: $227,300

> Maximum Job Length: 8 Years



> Previous Job: Senator from Delaware

Job Description: While the Vice President of the United States is the second-in-command of the executive branch, and aids the president in all of his bureaucratic and diplomatic efforts. The VP is also officially the President of the Senate, and presides over all meetings, although his only important role is to serve as the tiebreaker in the event of a voting deadlock. Vice President Biden is also next-in-line for the presidency should Obama die or become incapacitated.

2. Postmaster General: Patrick R. Donahoe

> Annual Base Salary: $245,000

> Maximum Tenure: 8 years

> Previous Job: A number of executive positions in the U.S. Postal Service

Job Description: Donahoe is the leader of the U.S. postal service, a position which is older than the U.S. Constitution. Once a presidential cabinet position, appointments for the position now come from within the service. Donahoe helps set postal rates and services, and oversees all major regulation changes.

1. President: Barack Obama

> Annual Base Salary: $400,000

> Maximum Job Length: 8 Years

> Previous Job: Senator from Illinois

Job Description: The President is the head executive branch, the Commander in Chief of the armed forces, and the nation’s leader and figurehead. Obama is responsible for a great number of bureaucratic appointments and nominations, and many of the people on this list are put in place by the president.

-Jon C. Ogg, Michael B. Sauter