governance

Board Member Salary

The Board Member position in nonprofit organizations encompasses specialized leadership positions providing expertise in areas like legal, technology, marketing, and human resources. This benchmark data reflects compensation trends from IRS Form 990 filings, providing transparent and verifiable salary information for this critical role.

Board Member

All U.S. nonprofits

Median Salary

$12,500

Strong benchmark (56,904 records, 8,248 orgs)

Based on 8,248 organizations (56,904 positions)

Compensation Distribution

Salary Distribution
P10
P25
Median$12,500
P75
P90

How does your salary compare?

Enter a current salary to see how it compares to the $12,500 median.

Need this for a board report?

Your Board Confidence Report includes peer-matched analysis your board can act on — not just national averages.

Full P10–P90 percentile breakdown
Board discussion language
IRS compliance checklist

Understanding Board Member Compensation

The Board Member 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: Board Director, Director (Board), Member of Board, Board of Directors Member.

Related Roles

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

Ready to Present This to Your Board?

Analyze multiple positions with peer comparisons, governance context, and transparent methodology — all in a shareable report.