Executive Director Salary in California
The Executive Director position in California 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 for organizations headquartered in California, providing transparent and verifiable salary information for this critical role.
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Executive Director
California
Median Salary
$120,500
Range: $44,819 - $246,684 (10th - 90th percentile)
Based on 9,213 organizations (34,829 positions)
Compensation Distribution in California
| P10 | $44,819 |
| P25 | $76,140 |
| Median | $120,500 |
| P75 | $179,905 |
| P90 | $246,684 |
Understanding Executive Director Compensation in California
The Executive Director role is a critical position within nonprofit organizations in California. Compensation for this position varies based on several factors:
- Cost of Living: California's cost of living affects salary expectations, with metropolitan areas typically offering higher compensation.
- 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.
- Local Market: Competition for talent in California and the density of nonprofit organizations influence salary ranges.
About This Data
This benchmark data is sourced from IRS Form 990 filings submitted by nonprofit organizations in California. 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.
Compare With Other States
Nonprofit compensation can vary significantly by state. Use our interactive tool to compare Executive Director salaries across different states and filter by organization size and sector.
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 in California:
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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