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United States Secretary of Labor
Flag of the United States Secretary of Labor.svg
Flag of the secretary
USDOL Seal circa 2015.svg
Seal of the department
Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer official portrait 2025 (54382448706).jpg
Incumbent
Lori Chavez-DeRemer
since March 11, 2025
United States Department of Labor
Style Madam Secretary (informal)
The Honorable (formal)
Member of Cabinet
Reports to President of the United States
Seat Frances Perkins Building, Washington, D.C.
Appointer The President of the United States
with Senate advice and consent
Term length No fixed term
Constituting instrument 29 U.S.C. § 551
Precursor Secretary of Commerce and Labor
Formation March 4, 1913; 112 years ago (March 4, 1913)
First holder William B. Wilson
Succession Eleventh
Deputy Deputy Secretary of Labor
Salary Executive Schedule, Level I

The United States Secretary of Labor is a very important person in the United States government. This person is part of the President's Cabinet, which is like a team of top advisors. The Secretary of Labor leads the United States Department of Labor, a government office that helps workers and businesses. Their job is to make sure laws about jobs, workplaces, and workers' rights are followed. They also suggest new laws to make things better for everyone who works.

Before 1913, there was one big department called the Department of Commerce and Labor. In 1913, it split into two separate departments. One became the Department of Commerce, led by the Secretary of Commerce. The other became the Department of Labor.

The Secretary of Labor holds a high-level position in the government. As of January 2021, the person in this role earns a salary of $221,400 per year.

Currently, Lori Chavez-DeRemer is the Secretary of Labor. She was appointed by President Donald J. Trump on March 11, 2025.

Past Leaders: Secretaries of Labor

This section lists all the people who have served as the Secretary of Labor.

      Democratic (13)       Republican (17)

Status

      Acting Secretary of Labor

No. Portrait Name State of residence Took office Left office President(s)
1 William Wilson Wilson, WilliamWilliam Wilson Pennsylvania March 6, 1913 March 4, 1921 Wilson, WoodrowWoodrow Wilson
(1913–1921)
2 James J. Davis Davis, James J.James J. Davis Pennsylvania March 5, 1921 November 30, 1930 Harding, Warren G.Warren G. Harding
(1921–1923)
Coolidge, CalvinCalvin Coolidge
(1923–1929)
Hoover, HerbertHerbert Hoover
(1929–1933)
3 William N. Doak Doak, William N.William N. Doak Virginia December 9, 1930 March 4, 1933
4 Frances Perkins Perkins, FrancesFrances Perkins New York March 4, 1933 June 30, 1945 Roosevelt, Franklin D.Franklin D. Roosevelt
(1933–1945)
Truman, Harry S.Harry S. Truman
(1945–1953)
5 Lewis B. Schwellenbach Schwellenbach, Lewis B.Lewis B. Schwellenbach Washington July 1, 1945 June 10, 1948
6 Maurice J. Tobin Tobin, Maurice J.Maurice J. Tobin Massachusetts August 13, 1948 January 20, 1953
7 Martin Durkin Durkin, MartinMartin Durkin Maryland January 21, 1953 September 10, 1953 Eisenhower, Dwight D.Dwight D. Eisenhower
(1953–1961)
8 James P. Mitchell Mitchell, James P.James P. Mitchell New Jersey October 9, 1953 January 20, 1961
9 Arthur Goldberg Goldberg, ArthurArthur Goldberg Illinois January 21, 1961 September 20, 1962 Kennedy, John F.John F. Kennedy
(1961–1963)
10 W. Willard Wirtz Wirtz, W. WillardW. Willard Wirtz Illinois September 25, 1962 January 20, 1969
Johnson, Lyndon B.Lyndon B. Johnson
(1963–1969)
11 George P. Shultz Shultz, George P.George P. Shultz Illinois January 22, 1969 July 1, 1970 Nixon, RichardRichard Nixon
(1969–1974)
12 James Hodgson Hodgson, JamesJames Hodgson California July 2, 1970 February 1, 1973
13 Peter J. Brennan Brennan, Peter J.Peter J. Brennan New York February 2, 1973 March 15, 1975
Ford, GeraldGerald Ford
(1974–1977)
14 John Dunlop Dunlop, JohnJohn Dunlop Massachusetts March 18, 1975 January 31, 1976
15 William Usery Jr. Usery Jr., WilliamWilliam Usery Jr. Georgia February 10, 1976 January 20, 1977
16 Ray Marshall Marshall, RayRay Marshall Texas January 27, 1977 January 20, 1981 Carter, JimmyJimmy Carter
(1977–1981)
17 Raymond J. Donovan Donovan, Raymond J.Raymond J. Donovan New Jersey February 4, 1981 March 15, 1985 Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan
(1981–1989)
18 Bill Brock Brock, BillBill Brock Tennessee April 29, 1985 October 31, 1987
19 Ann Dore McLaughlin Dore McLaughlin, AnnAnn Dore McLaughlin District of Columbia December 17, 1987 January 20, 1989
20 Elizabeth Dole Dole, ElizabethElizabeth Dole Kansas January 25, 1989 November 23, 1990 Bush, George H. W.George H. W. Bush
(1989–1993)
21 Lynn Martin Martin, LynnLynn Martin Illinois February 22, 1991 January 20, 1993
22 Robert Reich Reich, RobertRobert Reich Massachusetts January 22, 1993 January 20, 1997 Clinton, BillBill Clinton
(1993–2001)
23 Alexis Herman Herman, AlexisAlexis Herman Alabama May 1, 1997 January 20, 2001
24 Elaine Chao Chao, ElaineElaine Chao Kentucky January 29, 2001 January 20, 2009 Bush, George W.George W. Bush
(2001–2009)
– Howard Radzely Radzely, HowardHoward Radzely Pennsylvania January 20, 2009 February 2, 2009 Obama, BarackBarack Obama
(2009–2017)
– Edward Hugler Hugler, EdEd Hugler Pennsylvania February 2, 2009 February 24, 2009
25 Hilda Solis Solis, HildaHilda Solis California February 24, 2009 January 22, 2013
– Seth Harris Harris, SethSeth Harris New York January 22, 2013 July 23, 2013
26 Tom Perez Perez, TomTom Perez Maryland July 23, 2013 January 20, 2017
– Edward Hugler Hugler, EdEd Hugler Pennsylvania January 20, 2017 April 27, 2017 Trump, DonaldDonald Trump
(2017–2021)
27 Alexander Acosta Acosta, AlexanderAlexander Acosta Florida April 28, 2017 July 19, 2019
– Patrick Pizzella Pizzella, PatrickPatrick Pizzella Virginia July 20, 2019 September 30, 2019
28 Eugene Scalia Scalia, EugeneEugene Scalia Virginia September 30, 2019 January 20, 2021
– Al Stewart Stewart, AlAl Stewart Virginia January 20, 2021 March 23, 2021 Biden, JoeJoe Biden
(2021–2025)
29 Marty Walsh Walsh, MartyMarty Walsh Massachusetts March 23, 2021 March 11, 2023
– Julie Su Su, JulieJulie Su California March 11, 2023 January 20, 2025
– Vince Micone Micone, VinceVince Micone January 20, 2025 March 11, 2025 Trump, DonaldDonald Trump
(2025–present)
30 Lori Chavez-DeRemer Chavez-DeRemer, LoriLori Chavez-DeRemer Oregon March 11, 2025 Present

Who Takes Over: Line of Succession

If the Secretary of Labor cannot do their job, other officials are ready to step in. This is called the "line of succession." It ensures that the department always has a leader.

  1. Deputy Secretary of Labor
  2. Solicitor of Labor
  3. Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management
  4. Assistant Secretary for Policy
  5. Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs
  6. Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training
  7. Assistant Secretary for Employee Benefits Security
  8. Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health
  9. Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health
  10. Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs
  11. Chief Financial Officer
  12. Administrator, Wage and Hour Division
  13. Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training
  14. Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy
  15. Deputy Solicitor of Labor (First Assistant of the Solicitor of Labor)
  16. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy (First Assistant of the Assistant Secretary for Policy)
  17. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs (First Assistant of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs)
  18. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training (First Assistant of the Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training)
  19. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy (First Assistant of the Assistant Secretary for Employee Benefits Security)
  20. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health (First Assistant of the Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health)
  21. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health (First Assistant of the Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health)
  22. Regional Solicitor—Dallas
  23. Regional Administrator for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management—Region VI/Dallas

Acting Secretary: What Happens Next

If none of the officials listed above are available, a "Designated Secretarial Designee" takes over. This person temporarily manages the Department of Labor. However, they cannot make all the decisions a full Secretary can.

  1. Director, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
  2. Director of the Women's Bureau
  3. Regional Administrator, Employment and Training Administration—Dallas
  4. Regional Administration, Occupational Safety and Health Administration—Dallas

Images for kids

  • Flag of the United States Secretary of Labor (1915–1960)

    The former flag of the U.S. Secretary of Labor, used from 1915 to 1960.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Secretario de Trabajo de los Estados Unidos para niños

  • United States Deputy Secretary of Labor
  • United States Department of Labor Office of Inspector General
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