It pays to be Malcolm in the Middle.
A month after state Sen. Malcolm Smith bolted the Democratic Party to join the Independent Democratic Conference, seven of his staffers have gotten raises as high as 27 percent.
The extra staff cash in the Queens Dem’s budget is a reward for his defection, an Albany insider told The Post.
Smith and the four other breakaway Dems in the IDC made it possible for Republican Dean Skelos — who doles out staff budgets — to remain as Senate majority leader.
“I think it’s clear that these guys just want the perks and privilege,” the insider said.
Over a year, the additional money given to Smith for full-time salaries would total $48,500 in taxpayer cash, payroll figures show. No one on his team got a promotion with the pay hikes.
“We see the price to keep the Republicans in control,” the insider said.
Smith has said he’d like to run for mayor as a Republican this year.