In the Chicago Metro Area federal employees on the GS Pay Scale get a 25% increase in their base pay due to cost of living (I just looked at a GS Pay Scale the other day). And the D.C. area has to be more expensive to live in than in the Chi area. But even if it's the same, tack on another $24,181, for an annual salary of .... ta-da! .... $120,906! -- at the least.
Pretty sweet gig for doing .... what exactly?
IMO, calligraphy is art. A good calligrapher is worth the same as a good artist. The WH calligrapher, if she is skilled at doing calligraphy by hand, is probably one of the most skilled people in the administration. I’d value that above any of Zippy’s advisers and bureaucrats.
Does the WH need one on staff? That is the real question. I don’t have any insight into what the legitimate needs are at the WH, but I suspect the answer is no. I think it’s likely the work could be contracted out as needed.