Members of Congress gripe about how much time they spend asking for money. But just how much dough do they have to come up with while they’re not doing their day jobs? We did the math: Assuming they spent 40 hours a week focusing on finding funds, House members must raise, on average, $367 an hour; senators must come up with $819 an hour. Some of the most costly (and cheapest) seats on the Hill, by the hour:
Â
10 Most expensive Senate seats
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif): $2,444/hour
Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.): $2,068/hour
Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.): $1,875/hour
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.): $1,823/hour
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.):Â $1,812/hour
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.): $1,749/hour
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.):Â $1,685/hour
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.):Â $1,627/hour
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas):Â $1,611/hour
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.):Â $1,573/hour
Â
Least expensive Senate seat
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah): $143/hour
Â
10 Most expensive House seatsÂ
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.): $3,391/hourÂ
Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio): $2,449/hour
Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.):Â $1,636/hour
Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.):Â $1,489/hour
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.):Â $1,185/hour
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.):Â $1,128/hour
Rep. Scott Rigell (R-Va.): $1,128/hour
Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.):Â $1,013/hour
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.): $981/hour
Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.): $925/hour
Â
Least expensive House seat
 Rep. Todd Platts (R-Pa.): $55/hour
Â
Mother Jones analysis of data from the Center for Responsive Politics. Assumes 40 hours a week of fundraising, 50 weeks a year, for full term in office. Based on cost of members’ most recent election.