Jennifer Foster

White House officials released the salary list for its employees yesterday.

Nothing incredibly surprising: Top-level staff members of the Obama Administration earn the same amount as their predecessors in the Bush administration, according to CNN and a congressional report; 122 of 487 White House employees earn more than $100,000; and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is one of 22 White House staffers who have already “maxed out” at the top salary of $172,000 in their first five months of the job.

In addition to Emanuel, those top earners include high-level staffers Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, senior advisers David Axelrod and Valerie Jarrett, National Security Adviser Jim Jones, National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers, White House Counsel Greg Craig and communications director Anita Dunn.

Not surprising. You’re familiar with most of those folks (with the possible exception of Dunn). They hold incredibly important posts and have decades of experience to bring to the job; as such, they should be paid handsomely for their expertise.

But the group also includes Jonathan Favreau.

Never heard of him?

Oh, he’s the speechwriting director. He has likened his position to being “Ted Williams’ batting coach.“

And he’s 28 years old.

If you needed more confirmation of the importance Obama places on his speeches, look no further than this: He pays the guy who produces them the same as he pays the guy who analyzes confidential information about threats to our national security.

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