Executive Director Salary
The Executive Director position in nonprofit organizations encompasses executive leadership positions responsible for overall organizational strategy, governance, and mission delivery. This benchmark data reflects compensation trends from IRS Form 990 filings, providing transparent and verifiable salary information for this critical role.
Executive Director
All U.S. nonprofits
Median Salary
$99,845
Based on 90,986 organizations (316,251 positions)
Compensation Distribution
Median: $99,845
Unlock full percentile breakdown (P10–P90)| P10 | |
| P25 | |
| Median | $99,845 |
| P75 | |
| P90 |
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Understanding Executive Director Compensation
The Executive 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: Exec Director, ED, E.D., Exec. Director, Executive Dir, Executive Dir., Director Executive.
Related Roles
These positions are in the same peer group and may have similar compensation profiles:
President
188,073 records
CEO (Chief Executive Officer)
121,892 records
President/CEO
108,893 records
COO (Chief Operating Officer)
67,032 records
Chairman
20,511 records
Executive Vice President
15,472 records
CHRO (Chief Human Resources Officer)
9,758 records
CPO (Chief Program Officer)
7,970 records
Managing Director
6,687 records
Chief of Staff
5,063 records
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