The national government of Argentina implemented a significant salary increase for senior executive officials in April, following two years of frozen wages. According to official data cited by La Nación, the chief of staff and ministers saw their salaries rise from $3,584,006 in December to a projected $8,020,866 for May.
The adjustment was justified by government sources at Casa Rosada who said that salaries had fallen far behind accumulated inflation—estimated at 194% since the start of the administration—and that this lag was causing qualified professionals to leave for private sector jobs.
Current salary scales show that President Javier Milei and Vice President Victoria Villarruel were not affected by the January decree and their gross monthly earnings remain unchanged at $4,066,018 and $3,764,821 respectively. In contrast, ministers and the chief of staff are set to receive $7,902,331 in April (to be paid in May) with an increase to $8,020,866 for work performed in May. Secretaries’ salaries will rise from 3.2 million pesos in December to a projected $7,346,575 for May. Subsecretaries are expected to reach a monthly wage of $6,672,510 by May.
This cumulative 123% increase between December and May has reignited debate about austerity within the public sector. For comparison: senators earn approximately $11.6 million gross per month; deputies around $7 million including representation bonuses; Supreme Court judges have a base salary close to $9.9 million; while average state workers earn about $1.2 million according to ATE figures—with minimums starting at $600,000 pesos—and average stable remuneration across public and private sectors stood at roughly $1.65 million early this year.
The decision comes during a sensitive period for the government following the 2025 legislative elections and amid ongoing judicial investigations into some officials’ assets. Chief of Staff Manuel Adorni has drawn particular attention as his income and travel records are under scrutiny due to alleged illicit enrichment claims.
Officials maintain that despite these increases salaries continue to lag behind two years’ worth of inflation but argue that recent macroeconomic stability allows such adjustments without endangering fiscal surplus.
