Why Harris County constables will soon earn more than the US vice president

Harris County's eight elected constables are set to earn more than the vice president of the United States after county commissioners approved a significant pay hike.

According to the Houston Chronicle, the Harris County Commissioners Court voted 4-1 on Thursday to raise the annual salaries of the county's eight constables to US$305,000, subject to final approval as part of the county budget.

The new salary would exceed the payable salary of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, which is currently US$235,100 annually because of a federal executive pay freeze that has remained in effect since 2019. Although the vice president's statutory salary is US$284,600, the freeze limits the amount actually paid, according to CBS News and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.


The raise would also place the constables ahead of several top federal officials in annual pay. According to CBS News, the Chief Justice of the United States earns US$300,000, while Associate Justices receive US$298,500. Members of Congress earn US$174,000, and the Speaker of the House receives US$223,500 annually.

Notably, this marks the fourth salary increase in three years for Harris County's constables.

The Houston Chronicle reported that the constables wield considerable political influence because of their visibility in the neighborhoods they patrol and their ties with lawmakers in the Texas Legislature. The report said they have at times used the prospect of unfavorable legislation to seek greater county funding and operational autonomy.

The salary increase will make them among the highest-paid elected officials in Harris County, even though four of the eight constable offices employ fewer than 200 staff. The largest office, Precinct 4, had around 750 employees during the county's 2025 fiscal year, while the Harris County Sheriff's Office oversees more than 5,000 personnel. None of the constables attended the commissioners' meeting where the vote was taken, according to the report.

What do Harris County constables do?

Unlike constables in some U.S. states, Harris County constables are fully commissioned peace officers with countywide law enforcement authority. Their powers overlap with those of the sheriff's office, although their primary responsibilities differ.

Their duties include:

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  Serving court documents, including subpoenas, summonses, eviction notices and civil lawsuits.


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  Executing arrest warrants issued by courts across Texas.


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  Making arrests and enforcing state and local laws within Harris County.


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  Providing courtroom security and serving as bailiffs for Justice of the Peace courts.


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  Patrolling neighborhoods through the county's contract patrol programme, under which homeowner associations, municipal utility districts and other local entities pay for dedicated deputy patrols.


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  Conducting criminal investigations and operating specialised units in some precincts, including traffic enforcement, school security, animal cruelty and vice enforcement.

How are they different from the sheriff?

Harris County Sheriff	Harris County Constable
One sheriff elected countywide	Eight constables elected from individual precincts
Runs the county jail and provides policing in unincorporated areas	Primarily handles court security, civil process, warrants and precinct patrols
Oversees more than 5,000 personnel	Each constable manages an independent office, ranging from fewer than 100 employees to around 750 in the largest precinct

Why are they influential?

Harris County's constables have become influential political figures because many oversee sizeable patrol operations and maintain close ties with local communities through the county's contract patrol programme. According to the Houston Chronicle, they also hold considerable influence in county budget negotiations and within the Texas Legislature, helping explain why their latest pay increase has attracted national attention.