Do Commerce Secretaries have the highest average post-service income?

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

Secretary of Commerce is considered among the least meaningful, substantive cabinet posts. I was wondering why anyone leave the Senate or Governorship of New Mexico for such a lame post.

But it occurs to me that the position might quietly have very high post-service cash-in value.

(I would guess that the post-service private sector salaries of Commerce secretaries are a lot higher than those of former Secretaries of State, for instance.)

[Occam Bandage]

1. That's an interesting question.

I assumed it was just more of a retirement/sabbatical post, where politicians who think they're on the way out can kick back and hang out at nice parties for four years before adjusting their career paths.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. You can serve in 100 boards simultaneosly...

Everyone like having a former Commerce Secretary on their board. Those $100,00/year honorary positions can add up.

I assume someone like Vernon Jordan who is on half the boards of the S&P500 (exaggeration, but you know what I mean) makes money mere politicians can only dream about.

(Had Ron Brown lived I assume he would be in Vernon territory today.)