What is the average Nonprofit Executive Director salary in the US?

The national median Nonprofit Executive Director salary is $85,000 per year. Entry-level positions start around $62,000, while senior professionals earn $165,000 or more.

Which city pays Nonprofit Executive Directors the most?

Washington offers the highest median Nonprofit Executive Director salary at $109K per year among the cities we track. However, high-cost cities like San Francisco and New York often have lower purchasing power once cost of living is factored in.

How fast are Nonprofit Executive Director salaries growing?

Nonprofit Executive Director salaries are growing at 3.2% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.

Nonprofit30% remote-eligible+3.2% YoY growth

Nonprofit Executive Director Salary
by City (2026)

Lead nonprofit organizations to fulfill their mission through strategy, fundraising, and operations. National median: $85K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$85K

Top 10% earn

$165K

Entry level

$62K

Salary growth

+3.2%/yr

Nonprofit Executive Director salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
Washington, DC	$79K	$109K	$151K	152	8.5%
San Francisco, CA	$78K	$106K	$148K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$76K	$104K	$144K	210	9.3%
Oakland, CA	$73K	$100K	$139K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$73K	$100K	$139K	162	5%
Los Angeles, CA	$71K	$98K	$136K	163	9.3%
Arlington, VA	$71K	$98K	$136K	148	5.75%
Jersey City, NJ	$71K	$98K	$136K	162	10.75%
San Diego, CA	$69K	$95K	$132K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$69K	$95K	$132K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$69K	$95K	$132K	155	10.75%
Worcester, MA	$68K	$94K	$130K	120	5%
Sacramento, CA	$67K	$92K	$127K	128	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$67K	$92K	$127K	155	9.3%
Philadelphia, PA	$67K	$92K	$127K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$67K	$92K	$127K	130	9.9%
Baltimore, MD	$67K	$92K	$127K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$67K	$92K	$127K	192	11%
Chicago, IL	$65K	$89K	$124K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$65K	$89K	$124K	118	4.55%
Hartford, CT	$65K	$89K	$124K	118	6.99%
Tacoma, WA	$63K	$87K	$120K	128	None ✓
Durham, NC	$63K	$87K	$120K	100	4.75%
Minneapolis, MN	$63K	$87K	$120K	106	6.8%
Anchorage, AK	$63K	$87K	$120K	128	None ✓
Houston, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	91	None ✓
San Antonio, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	87	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	96	None ✓
Austin, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	110	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	93	None ✓
El Paso, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	82	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	94	None ✓
Corpus Christi, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	84	None ✓
Plano, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	105	None ✓
Lubbock, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	78	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	82	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	90	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	118	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	75	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	88	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	80	None ✓
Midland, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	92	None ✓
Waco, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	82	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	78	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	85	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	108	None ✓
Denton, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	100	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	85	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	102	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	85	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$62K	$85K	$118K	95	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$62K	$85K	$118K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$62K	$85K	$118K	150	9.3%
Riverside, CA	$62K	$85K	$118K	118	9.3%
Stockton, CA	$62K	$85K	$118K	105	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$62K	$85K	$118K	138	9.3%
Irvine, CA	$62K	$85K	$118K	172	9.3%
San Bernardino, CA	$62K	$85K	$118K	100	9.3%
New York City, NY	$62K	$85K	$118K	187	6.85%
Yonkers, NY	$62K	$85K	$118K	165	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$62K	$85K	$118K	88	6.85%
Albany, NY	$62K	$85K	$118K	98	6.85%
Miami, FL	$62K	$85K	$118K	123	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$62K	$85K	$118K	115	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$62K	$85K	$118K	98	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$62K	$85K	$118K	100	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$62K	$85K	$118K	90	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$62K	$85K	$118K	112	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$62K	$85K	$118K	115	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$62K	$85K	$118K	88	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$62K	$85K	$118K	95	4.95%
Joliet, IL	$62K	$85K	$118K	90	4.95%
Naperville, IL	$62K	$85K	$118K	118	4.95%
Rockford, IL	$62K	$85K	$118K	80	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$62K	$85K	$118K	118	None ✓
Bellevue, WA	$62K	$85K	$118K	175	None ✓
Kirkland, WA	$62K	$85K	$118K	162	None ✓
Glendale, AZ	$62K	$85K	$118K	95	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$62K	$85K	$118K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$62K	$85K	$118K	108	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$62K	$85K	$118K	100	2.5%
Fort Collins, CO	$62K	$85K	$118K	112	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$62K	$85K	$118K	115	4.55%
Thornton, CO	$62K	$85K	$118K	108	4.55%
Pueblo, CO	$62K	$85K	$118K	82	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$62K	$85K	$118K	99	5.75%
Columbus, GA	$62K	$85K	$118K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$62K	$85K	$118K	82	5.75%
Athens, GA	$62K	$85K	$118K	92	5.75%
Macon, GA	$62K	$85K	$118K	80	5.75%
Springfield, MA	$62K	$85K	$118K	105	5%
Cambridge, MA	$62K	$85K	$118K	185	5%
Lowell, MA	$62K	$85K	$118K	118	5%
Raleigh, NC	$62K	$85K	$118K	102	4.75%
Greensboro, NC	$62K	$85K	$118K	88	4.75%
Winston-Salem, NC	$62K	$85K	$118K	85	4.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$62K	$85K	$118K	82	4.75%
Cary, NC	$62K	$85K	$118K	112	4.75%
Norfolk, VA	$62K	$85K	$118K	95	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$62K	$85K	$118K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$62K	$85K	$118K	95	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$62K	$85K	$118K	145	5.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$62K	$85K	$118K	88	None ✓
Clarksville, TN	$62K	$85K	$118K	82	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$62K	$85K	$118K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$62K	$85K	$118K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$62K	$85K	$118K	80	3.99%
Warren, MI	$62K	$85K	$118K	85	4.25%
Sterling Heights, MI	$62K	$85K	$118K	90	4.25%
Ann Arbor, MI	$62K	$85K	$118K	115	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$62K	$85K	$118K	85	4.25%
Allentown, PA	$62K	$85K	$118K	95	3.07%
Erie, PA	$62K	$85K	$118K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$62K	$85K	$118K	80	5.3%
Independence, MO	$62K	$85K	$118K	85	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$62K	$85K	$118K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$62K	$85K	$118K	78	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$62K	$85K	$118K	82	3.23%
Madison, WI	$62K	$85K	$118K	102	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$62K	$85K	$118K	88	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$62K	$85K	$118K	90	5.3%
St. Paul, MN	$62K	$85K	$118K	104	6.8%
Rochester, MN	$62K	$85K	$118K	100	6.8%
Duluth, MN	$62K	$85K	$118K	92	6.8%
Salem, OR	$62K	$85K	$118K	105	9.9%
Eugene, OR	$62K	$85K	$118K	110	9.9%
Gresham, OR	$62K	$85K	$118K	118	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$62K	$85K	$118K	105	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$62K	$85K	$118K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$62K	$85K	$118K	98	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$62K	$85K	$118K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$62K	$85K	$118K	98	4.85%
Lexington, KY	$62K	$85K	$118K	88	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$62K	$85K	$118K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$62K	$85K	$118K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$62K	$85K	$118K	82	5%
North Charleston, SC	$62K	$85K	$118K	95	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$62K	$85K	$118K	92	6.5%
Norman, OK	$62K	$85K	$118K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$62K	$85K	$118K	82	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$62K	$85K	$118K	78	6%
Lafayette, LA	$62K	$85K	$118K	85	6%
Frederick, MD	$62K	$85K	$118K	115	5.75%
Rockville, MD	$62K	$85K	$118K	148	5.75%
Paterson, NJ	$62K	$85K	$118K	140	10.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$62K	$85K	$118K	145	10.75%
Edison, NJ	$62K	$85K	$118K	138	10.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$62K	$85K	$118K	118	6.99%
New Haven, CT	$62K	$85K	$118K	122	6.99%
Stamford, CT	$62K	$85K	$118K	158	6.99%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$62K	$85K	$118K	85	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$62K	$85K	$118K	82	4.82%
Overland Park, KS	$62K	$85K	$118K	100	5.7%
Kansas City, KS	$62K	$85K	$118K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$62K	$85K	$118K	85	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$62K	$85K	$118K	80	5.9%
Rio Rancho, NM	$62K	$85K	$118K	85	5.9%
Boise, ID	$62K	$85K	$118K	108	5.8%
Meridian, ID	$62K	$85K	$118K	105	5.8%
Nampa, ID	$62K	$85K	$118K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$62K	$85K	$118K	98	6.75%
Missoula, MT	$62K	$85K	$118K	102	6.75%
Great Falls, MT	$62K	$85K	$118K	88	6.75%
Cheyenne, WY	$62K	$85K	$118K	92	None ✓
Casper, WY	$62K	$85K	$118K	88	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$62K	$85K	$118K	90	2.5%
Bismarck, ND	$62K	$85K	$118K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$62K	$85K	$118K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$62K	$85K	$118K	88	None ✓
Jackson, MS	$62K	$85K	$118K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$62K	$85K	$118K	80	5%
Fort Smith, AR	$62K	$85K	$118K	75	4.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$62K	$85K	$118K	85	4.9%
Charleston, WV	$62K	$85K	$118K	78	6.5%
Huntington, WV	$62K	$85K	$118K	75	6.5%
Portland, ME	$62K	$85K	$118K	115	7.15%
Lewiston, ME	$62K	$85K	$118K	98	7.15%
Manchester, NH	$62K	$85K	$118K	118	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$62K	$85K	$118K	120	None ✓
Concord, NH	$62K	$85K	$118K	115	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$62K	$85K	$118K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$62K	$85K	$118K	118	5.99%
Warwick, RI	$62K	$85K	$118K	115	5.99%
Wilmington, DE	$62K	$85K	$118K	108	6.6%
Dover, DE	$62K	$85K	$118K	100	6.6%
Pearl City, HI	$62K	$85K	$118K	185	11%
Hilo, HI	$62K	$85K	$118K	155	11%
Fairbanks, AK	$62K	$85K	$118K	138	None ✓
Bethesda, MD	$62K	$85K	$118K	165	5.75%
Scottsdale, AZ	$61K	$83K	$116K	118	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$61K	$83K	$116K	112	4.55%
Nashville, TN	$61K	$83K	$116K	102	None ✓
Salt Lake City, UT	$61K	$83K	$116K	105	4.85%
Tampa, FL	$60K	$82K	$113K	102	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$60K	$82K	$113K	118	None ✓
Charlotte, NC	$60K	$82K	$113K	100	4.75%
Richmond, VA	$60K	$82K	$113K	98	5.75%
Irving, TX	$59K	$81K	$112K	97	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$59K	$81K	$112K	100	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$59K	$81K	$112K	100	2.5%
Pittsburgh, PA	$59K	$81K	$112K	90	3.07%
Provo, UT	$59K	$81K	$112K	100	4.85%
McKinney, TX	$58K	$80K	$111K	108	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$58K	$80K	$111K	105	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$58K	$80K	$111K	105	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$58K	$80K	$111K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$58K	$80K	$111K	90	3.99%
Charleston, SC	$58K	$80K	$111K	105	6.5%
Garland, TX	$57K	$78K	$109K	91	None ✓
Rochester, NY	$57K	$78K	$109K	90	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$57K	$78K	$109K	93	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$57K	$78K	$109K	98	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$57K	$78K	$109K	102	4.55%
Cincinnati, OH	$57K	$78K	$109K	88	3.99%
Kansas City, MO	$57K	$78K	$109K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$57K	$78K	$109K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$57K	$78K	$109K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$57K	$78K	$109K	90	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$57K	$78K	$109K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$57K	$78K	$109K	108	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$56K	$77K	$106K	102	9.3%
Buffalo, NY	$56K	$77K	$106K	88	6.85%
Louisville, KY	$56K	$77K	$106K	85	5%
Huntsville, AL	$56K	$77K	$106K	88	5%
New Orleans, LA	$56K	$77K	$106K	92	6%
Spokane, WA	$55K	$75K	$104K	95	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$55K	$75K	$104K	90	2.5%
Cleveland, OH	$55K	$75K	$104K	82	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$55K	$75K	$104K	82	4.25%
Grand Rapids, MI	$55K	$75K	$104K	90	4.25%
Columbia, SC	$55K	$75K	$104K	88	6.5%
Des Moines, IA	$55K	$75K	$104K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$55K	$75K	$104K	88	5.84%
Albuquerque, NM	$55K	$75K	$104K	88	5.9%
Birmingham, AL	$53K	$73K	$101K	82	5%
Baton Rouge, LA	$53K	$73K	$101K	88	6%
Savannah, GA	$53K	$72K	$100K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$53K	$72K	$100K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$53K	$72K	$100K	85	None ✓
Oklahoma City, OK	$53K	$72K	$100K	82	4.75%
Tulsa, OK	$51K	$71K	$98K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$51K	$70K	$97K	82	5.7%
Little Rock, AR	$51K	$70K	$97K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$50K	$68K	$94K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $85K Nonprofit Executive Director salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Nonprofit Executive Director Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Nonprofit Executive Director is $85,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $62,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $118,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Nonprofit Executive Directors nationally earn $165,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's or Master's in Nonprofit Management or related. This role is 30% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Nonprofit Executive Director compensation is growing at 3.2% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Nonprofit Executive Director Salaryby City (2026)