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Artistic Director Salary

The Artistic Director position in nonprofit organizations encompasses program leadership positions overseeing mission-driven services and program delivery. This benchmark data reflects compensation trends from IRS Form 990 filings, providing transparent and verifiable salary information for this critical role.

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Artistic Director

All U.S. nonprofits

Median Salary

$73,687

Range: $18,000 - $220,939 (10th - 90th percentile)

Strong benchmark (5,977 records, 1,814 orgs)

Based on 1,814 organizations (5,977 positions)

Compensation Distribution

Salary Distribution
P10$18,000
P25$39,591
Median$73,687
P75$143,532
P90$220,939

Understanding Artistic Director Compensation

The Artistic Director role is a critical position within nonprofit organizations. Compensation for this position varies significantly based on factors including:

  • Geographic Location: Salaries in major metropolitan areas tend to be higher than in rural regions due to cost of living differences.
  • Organization Size: Larger nonprofits with bigger budgets typically offer higher compensation packages.
  • Sector: Different nonprofit sectors (health, education, social services, etc.) have varying compensation norms.
  • Experience Level: Years of experience and track record significantly impact salary expectations.

About This Data

This benchmark data is sourced from IRS Form 990 filings, which nonprofits are required to submit annually. Form 990 reports compensation for officers, directors, trustees, key employees earning over $150,000, and the five highest-compensated employees earning over $100,000. For general staff positions not covered by Form 990, we supplement with Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational wage data.

Related Job Titles

This position may also be known as: Art Director, Creative Director, Music Director, Producing Artistic Director.

Related Roles

These positions are in the same peer group and may have similar compensation profiles:

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