What Do Nonprofits Pay?
Salary benchmarks from the IRS Form 990 filings nonprofits already make public, so your board can set pay that is fair, competitive, and defensible.
People Counted
1163
Organizations
235
States Represented
24
Executive Director / CEO Median
$218,111
The takeaways
The typical nonprofit executive director or CEO in this data earns $218,111 in total compensation (n=194), with the middle half between $121,287 and $341,625.
Size is the strongest pay signal we can see: executive directors at organizations with $1M to $10M in revenue earn a median $180,761, about 81% more than the $99,840 median at organizations under $1M.
The highest-paid person in the sample is a director - ceo/president at Vns Health Behavioral Health Inc (New York, NY), at $3,165,809 total compensation. Outliers like this are why we benchmark with medians, not averages.
Median pay by role
Every officer, director, and key employee a nonprofit lists in Part VII of its Form 990, grouped into roles by job title. Only people averaging at least 20 hours a week and at least $20,000 in total pay are counted, so unpaid board members do not drag the numbers down.
Executive Director / CEO
194 people$218K
n=194Development / Fundraising
29 people$197K
n=29Other Directors & Officers
729 people$195K
n=729Finance (CFO / Controller)
106 people$185K
n=106Operations (COO)
56 people$183K
n=56Programs
49 people$180K
n=49Pay by organization size
The same roles, split by the organization's annual revenue. Compare against organizations your own size: a $400K charity and a $40M health network are not paying from the same market.
Executive Director / CEO
Under $1M
33 people$100K
n=33$1M - $10M
69 people$181K
n=69$10M+
92 people$288K
n=92Development / Fundraising
$1M - $10M
9 people$157K
n=9$10M+
19 people$203K
n=19Other Directors & Officers
Under $1M
31 people$102K
n=31$1M - $10M
163 people$170K
n=163$10M+
535 people$208K
n=535Finance (CFO / Controller)
$1M - $10M
28 people$151K
n=28$10M+
78 people$197K
n=78Operations (COO)
$1M - $10M
14 people$120K
n=14$10M+
41 people$187K
n=41Programs
Under $1M
4 people$95K
n=4$1M - $10M
7 people$136K
n=7$10M+
38 people$189K
n=38Look up pay at organizations like yours
The individual records below are the highest-paid people nationally, plus the highest-paid person at each of the 30 best-paying organizations under $1M in revenue, so smaller nonprofits are represented too. They are shown so you can sanity-check the benchmarks against real filings. The charts above are built from everyone counted, not just this list.
Showing 60 of 60 records
| Organization / Title | Location | Role | Org revenue | Hours/wk | Total comp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vns Health Behavioral Health Inc DIRECTOR - CEO/PRESIDENT · filed 2024 | New York, NY | Executive Director / CEO | $46,395,812 | 55 | $3,165,809 |
Community Hospital Corporation PRES, CEO/BOARD MEMBER · filed 2025 | Plano, TX | Executive Director / CEO | $15,833,696 | 38 | $2,380,347 |
Blackstone Health Inc DIRector - PRESident/CEO/CNE · filed 2025 | Providence, RI | Executive Director / CEO | $1,792,691 | 55 | $2,192,482 |
Vandalia Health Inc PRESIDENT AND CEO VANDALIA HEALTH · filed 2024 | Charleston, WV | Executive Director / CEO | $3,697,157 | 50 | $2,058,561 |
Mtwy Health SYSTEM CFO (UNTIL 4/26/2024) · filed 2024 | Kalispell, MT | Finance (CFO / Controller) | $16,737,729 | 30 | $1,953,756 |
Bryan Health PRESIDENT/CEO/EX-OFFICIO MEMBER · filed 2024 | Lincoln, NE | Executive Director / CEO | $5,630,571 | 50 | $1,777,477 |
Texas Hospital Association SVP/CFO · filed 2024 | Austin, TX | Finance (CFO / Controller) | $13,985,705 | 40 | $1,740,146 |
Mtwy Health SYSTEM CEO (UNTIL 3/11/2024) · filed 2024 | Kalispell, MT | Executive Director / CEO | $16,737,729 | 30 | $1,740,052 |
Academy Health PRESIDENT AND CEO (UNTIL 3/31/24) · filed 2024 | Washington, DC | Executive Director / CEO | $16,134,169 | 55 | $1,326,968 |
Vandalia Health Inc VP GENERAL COUNSEL & SECRETARY · filed 2024 | Charleston, WV | Other Directors & Officers | $3,697,157 | 50 | $1,307,563 |
Bryan Health EXEC VP & COO/EX-OFFICIO MEMBER · filed 2024 | Lincoln, NE | Operations (COO) | $5,630,571 | 50 | $1,302,931 |
Vandalia Health Inc EXECUTIVE VP AND CFO VANDALIA HEALTH · filed 2024 | Charleston, WV | Finance (CFO / Controller) | $3,697,157 | 50 | $1,211,201 |
Mtwy Health SYSTEM CO-CEO · filed 2024 | Kalispell, MT | Executive Director / CEO | $16,737,729 | 30 | $1,206,892 |
Texas Hospital Association CEO/PRESIDENT · filed 2024 | Austin, TX | Executive Director / CEO | $13,985,705 | 40 | $1,163,185 |
Vns Health Behavioral Health Inc EVP & CFO · filed 2024 | New York, NY | Finance (CFO / Controller) | $46,395,812 | 55 | $1,106,404 |
Bryan Health VP & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER · filed 2024 | Lincoln, NE | Finance (CFO / Controller) | $5,630,571 | 51 | $1,054,280 |
Stamford Health Inc SR. VP OPERATIONS, COO · filed 2025 | Stamford, CT | Operations (COO) | $8,865,349 | 20 | $979,410 |
Education Credit Union CEO · filed 2025 | Amarillo, TX | Executive Director / CEO | $43,482,287 | 40 | $977,146 |
Association For Health Center Affiliated Health Plans CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER · filed 2024 | Washington, DC | Executive Director / CEO | $8,012,471 | 37.5 | $956,045 |
Vns Health Behavioral Health Inc EVP & CPS (EFF 2/24) · filed 2024 | New York, NY | Other Directors & Officers | $46,395,812 | 55 | $925,872 |
Proctor Health Systems Associate Chief Medical Officer · filed 2024 | Urbana, IL | Other Directors & Officers | $38,316,180 | 40 | $850,126 |
Astria Health PRESIDENT & · filed 2024 | Sunnyside, WA | Executive Director / CEO | $45,004,614 | 22 | $846,002 |
Mtwy Health CLO/SECRETARY · filed 2024 | Kalispell, MT | Other Directors & Officers | $16,737,729 | 30 | $839,845 |
Proctor Health Systems Physician - Primary Care · filed 2024 | Urbana, IL | Other Directors & Officers | $38,316,180 | 40 | $839,459 |
Mtwy Health CAO · filed 2024 | Kalispell, MT | Other Directors & Officers | $16,737,729 | 30 | $822,018 |
Stamford Health Inc PHYSICIAN DIRECTOR (SHMG) · filed 2025 | Stamford, CT | Other Directors & Officers | $8,865,349 | 38 | $802,197 |
Vandalia Health Inc VP HUMAN RESOURCES · filed 2024 | Charleston, WV | Other Directors & Officers | $3,697,157 | 50 | $792,441 |
Empath Health Inc PRESIDENT/CEO · filed 2025 | Lakewood Ranch, FL | Executive Director / CEO | $45,099,087 | 20 | $792,410 |
Health Services Inc DOCTOR · filed 2025 | Montgomery, AL | Other Directors & Officers | $28,402,385 | 80 | $773,635 |
Hillbrook School HEAD OF SCHOOL · filed 2025 | Los Gatos, CA | Other Directors & Officers | $27,310,129 | 40 | $747,470 |
Cottage Health Foundation CHIEF EXEC O · filed 2025 | Galesburg, IL | Other Directors & Officers | $749,072 | 40 | $246,071 |
Nevada Health Care Association CEO/PRESIDENT · filed 2024 | Henderson, NV | Executive Director / CEO | $647,209 | 40 | $240,626 |
Eller Executive Education EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THRU 03/2025 · filed 2025 | Tucson, AZ | Executive Director / CEO | $960,130 | 40 | $212,821 |
Bethel College CEO · filed 2025 | Redding, CA | Executive Director / CEO | $705,808 | 39 | $206,935 |
Outcare Health Inc Chief Marketing Office · filed 2025 | Indianapolis, IN | Other Directors & Officers | $820,860 | 40 | $202,125 |
United Hospital Association EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · filed 2024 | Ventura, CA | Executive Director / CEO | $285,785 | 20 | $188,700 |
Adderley School Member at Large · filed 2025 | Austin, TX | Other Directors & Officers | $696,654 | 40 | $180,250 |
Nccpa Health Foundation Foundation Managing Director · filed 2025 | Johns Creek, GA | Other Directors & Officers | $385,011 | 37.5 | $178,906 |
Myally Health EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · filed 2025 | Grand Forks, ND | Executive Director / CEO | $988,247 | 32 | $161,699 |
Halo School Board Member · filed 2024 | Austin, TX | Other Directors & Officers | $414,287 | 40 | $158,978 |
Health Volunteers Overseas EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · filed 2024 | Washington, DC | Executive Director / CEO | $947,343 | 37.5 | $154,630 |
Tova Community Health Inc DIRECTOR · filed 2025 | Wilmington, DE | Other Directors & Officers | $456,167 | 40 | $154,260 |
Thresholds Health Nfp PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT · filed 2025 | Chicago, IL | Other Directors & Officers | $833,954 | 40 | $154,040 |
Lightpath Health EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · filed 2024 | Plano, TX | Executive Director / CEO | $463,502 | 40 | $147,352 |
Kentuckiana Health Collaborative PRESIDENT AND CEO · filed 2025 | Louisville, KY | Executive Director / CEO | $339,848 | 40 | $145,224 |
Marisol Health Inc NURSE MIDWIF · filed 2025 | Denver, CO | Other Directors & Officers | $990,290 | 40 | $141,159 |
Defend Our Health PRESIDENT & · filed 2024 | Portland, ME | Executive Director / CEO | $819,835 | 40 | $139,912 |
Salida Hospital Foundation FND DIRECTOR · filed 2024 | Salida, CO | Other Directors & Officers | $406,730 | 40 | $135,129 |
Delaware Health Net Inc EXECUTIVE DI · filed 2025 | Wilmington, DE | Other Directors & Officers | $671,422 | 40 | $134,919 |
Northeast Hospital Foundation Dir of Development & Prog · filed 2025 | Humble, TX | Development / Fundraising | $321,063 | 34 | $134,583 |
Education Incubator CEO · filed 2025 | Honolulu, HI | Executive Director / CEO | $560,179 | 40 | $134,202 |
Sapience Education DIRECTOR · filed 2024 | Tomball, TX | Other Directors & Officers | $462,248 | 40 | $125,200 |
Abundant Education Teacher · filed 2025 | San Jose, CA | Other Directors & Officers | $511,956 | 40 | $120,000 |
International Health Care Foundation EXECUTIVE DI · filed 2025 | Searcy, AR | Other Directors & Officers | $996,508 | 40 | $119,400 |
Life College PROGRAM DIRECTOR · filed 2025 | Aliso Viejo, CA | Programs | $431,289 | 40 | $117,789 |
Foster College President · filed 2025 | Dallas, TX | Executive Director / CEO | $591,471 | 40 | $113,465 |
Health Education Center Inc Executive Dir. · filed 2025 | Norwich, CT | Executive Director / CEO | $602,060 | 40 | $109,641 |
Wickenburg Community Hospital Foundation Inc Executive Director · filed 2023 | Wickenburg, AZ | Executive Director / CEO | $315,063 | 40 | $106,517 |
Jackson Hospital Foundation Inc PRESIDENT · filed 2024 | Montgomery, AL | Executive Director / CEO | $506,980 | — | $104,594 |
Hawaii Coalition For Health Medical Director · filed 2024 | Honolulu, HI | Programs | $336,236 | 30 | $103,962 |
How boards use this
Before a salary decision: find your role above, pick the revenue band closest to your organization's, and use the median and middle 50% as the range to discuss, not a single magic number.
In your records: the IRS expects boards to document how pay was set using comparable data. These figures come from the same Form 990 data the IRS itself publishes, and the methodology below is written to be cited in minutes.
When hiring: if your offer sits below the 25th percentile for your size band, expect a harder search, and budget for it openly.
Methodology and limits
Universe: Nonprofits filing Form 990 with paid officers in AK/AL/AR/AZ/CA/CO/CT/DC/DE/FL/GA/HI/IA/ID/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA/MA/MD/ME/MI/MN/MO/MS/MT/NC/ND/NE/NH/NJ/NM/NV/NY/OK/OR/PA/RI/SC/TN/TX/UT/VA/VT/WA/WI/WV/WY; latest filing per organization.
Filters: Only people with >= 20 avg hours/week and >= $20,000 total compensation (reportable from org + related orgs + other comp).
Source: IRS Form 990 Part VII via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Total compensation is reportable pay from the organization plus related organizations and other compensation, exactly as filed.
Limits: Form 990s lag real life, most filings here are for fiscal years ending 2023 to 2025. Job titles are grouped by keyword, so an unusual title can land in a neighboring bucket. Small groups are never published: a benchmark needs at least 4 people.
Data generated October 21, 2026 · 1163 people at 235 organizationsPay is only half the budget picture
See what funding is open right now in the nonprofit grants directory, and learn how Opportunity Hack's volunteer developers can build your next tool for free.
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To empower students, professionals, and nonprofits to collaboratively create sustainable tech solutions that drive social impact and foster learning.
To build a global community where individuals can accelerate their career growth while making a lasting impact for nonprofits.
- What's Opportunity Hack?
- Sponsor Social Good
- FAQ
- Our History
- Join Us on Slack
- Privacy Policy
- This website is a public good.
Fork this on GitHub caf2a5e