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
San Francisco, CA	$93K	$128K	$177K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$90K	$123K	$171K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$87K	$119K	$166K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$86K	$118K	$164K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$86K	$118K	$164K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$86K	$117K	$163K	185	9.3%
Washington, DC	$86K	$117K	$163K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$84K	$115K	$159K	175	None ✓
Jersey City, NJ	$84K	$115K	$159K	162	10.75%
Irvine, CA	$83K	$113K	$158K	172	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$81K	$111K	$153K	163	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$81K	$111K	$154K	165	6.85%
Seattle, WA	$81K	$111K	$153K	150	None ✓
Boston, MA	$81K	$111K	$153K	162	5%
Arlington, VA	$81K	$111K	$153K	148	5.75%
Bethesda, MD	$81K	$111K	$154K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$80K	$110K	$152K	162	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$79K	$109K	$151K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$79K	$108K	$150K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$78K	$107K	$148K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$78K	$106K	$148K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$77K	$105K	$146K	150	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$76K	$104K	$144K	155	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$76K	$104K	$145K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$76K	$104K	$145K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$75K	$103K	$143K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$75K	$103K	$143K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$74K	$101K	$140K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$73K	$100K	$139K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$73K	$100K	$139K	138	9.3%
Portland, OR	$73K	$100K	$139K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$73K	$100K	$139K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$73K	$100K	$139K	138	None ✓
Austin, TX	$71K	$98K	$136K	110	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$71K	$98K	$136K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$71K	$98K	$136K	118	2.5%
Denver, CO	$71K	$98K	$136K	118	4.55%
Miami, FL	$69K	$95K	$132K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$69K	$95K	$132K	128	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$69K	$95K	$132K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$69K	$95K	$132K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$69K	$95K	$132K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$69K	$95K	$132K	192	11%
Dallas, TX	$68K	$94K	$130K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$68K	$94K	$130K	105	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$68K	$94K	$130K	99	5.75%
Minneapolis, MN	$68K	$94K	$130K	106	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$68K	$94K	$130K	105	4.85%
New Haven, CT	$69K	$94K	$131K	122	6.99%
Hartford, CT	$68K	$94K	$130K	118	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$68K	$93K	$129K	120	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$67K	$92K	$127K	108	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$67K	$92K	$128K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$67K	$92K	$128K	118	9.3%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$67K	$92K	$127K	118	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$67K	$92K	$128K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$67K	$92K	$128K	118	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$67K	$92K	$127K	112	4.55%
Lowell, MA	$67K	$92K	$128K	118	5%
Raleigh, NC	$67K	$92K	$127K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$67K	$92K	$127K	100	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$67K	$92K	$127K	104	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$67K	$92K	$128K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$67K	$92K	$128K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$67K	$92K	$128K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$67K	$92K	$128K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$67K	$92K	$128K	118	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$67K	$92K	$127K	128	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$67K	$91K	$127K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$67K	$91K	$127K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$67K	$91K	$127K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$67K	$91K	$127K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$67K	$91K	$127K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$67K	$91K	$127K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$67K	$91K	$127K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$67K	$91K	$127K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$66K	$90K	$125K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$66K	$90K	$125K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$66K	$90K	$125K	112	4.75%
Irving, TX	$65K	$89K	$124K	97	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$65K	$89K	$123K	108	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$65K	$89K	$124K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$65K	$89K	$124K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$65K	$89K	$124K	105	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$65K	$89K	$123K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$65K	$89K	$123K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$65K	$89K	$123K	108	4.55%
Charlotte, NC	$65K	$89K	$124K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$65K	$89K	$124K	102	None ✓
Eugene, OR	$65K	$89K	$124K	110	9.9%
Provo, UT	$65K	$89K	$124K	100	4.85%
Boise, ID	$65K	$89K	$123K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$65K	$89K	$123K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$64K	$88K	$123K	91	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$63K	$87K	$120K	93	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$64K	$87K	$121K	105	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$63K	$87K	$120K	100	None ✓
Springfield, MA	$64K	$87K	$121K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$64K	$87K	$121K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$64K	$87K	$121K	105	None ✓
Reno, NV	$63K	$87K	$120K	108	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$64K	$87K	$121K	105	5.8%
Denton, TX	$62K	$86K	$119K	100	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$63K	$86K	$120K	102	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$62K	$86K	$119K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$62K	$86K	$119K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$62K	$86K	$119K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$62K	$86K	$119K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$62K	$86K	$119K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$62K	$86K	$119K	100	5.7%
Missoula, MT	$63K	$86K	$120K	102	6.75%
Dover, DE	$62K	$86K	$119K	100	6.6%
Arlington, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$62K	$85K	$118K	91	None ✓
Albany, NY	$62K	$85K	$118K	98	6.85%
St. Petersburg, FL	$62K	$85K	$118K	105	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$62K	$85K	$118K	98	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$62K	$85K	$118K	98	2.5%
Chesapeake, VA	$62K	$85K	$118K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$62K	$85K	$118K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$62K	$85K	$118K	90	3.99%
Pittsburgh, PA	$62K	$85K	$118K	90	3.07%
Las Vegas, NV	$62K	$85K	$118K	102	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$62K	$85K	$118K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$62K	$85K	$118K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$62K	$85K	$118K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$62K	$85K	$118K	105	6.5%
Nampa, ID	$62K	$85K	$118K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$62K	$85K	$118K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$62K	$85K	$118K	98	7.15%
Bakersfield, CA	$61K	$84K	$116K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$61K	$84K	$116K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$61K	$84K	$116K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$61K	$84K	$116K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$61K	$84K	$116K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$61K	$84K	$116K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$61K	$84K	$116K	95	6.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$61K	$83K	$116K	98	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$61K	$83K	$116K	88	3.99%
Kansas City, MO	$61K	$83K	$116K	90	5.3%
Madison, WI	$61K	$83K	$116K	102	5.3%
Grand Prairie, TX	$60K	$82K	$113K	90	None ✓
Midland, TX	$60K	$82K	$114K	92	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$60K	$82K	$113K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$60K	$82K	$113K	90	4.95%
Colorado Springs, CO	$60K	$82K	$113K	102	4.55%
Athens, GA	$60K	$82K	$114K	92	5.75%
Sterling Heights, MI	$60K	$82K	$113K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$60K	$82K	$113K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$60K	$82K	$113K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$60K	$82K	$113K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$60K	$82K	$113K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$60K	$82K	$114K	92	6.8%
Huntsville, AL	$60K	$82K	$113K	88	5%
Greenville, SC	$60K	$82K	$114K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$60K	$82K	$114K	92	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$60K	$82K	$113K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$59K	$81K	$112K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$59K	$81K	$112K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$59K	$81K	$112K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$59K	$81K	$112K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$59K	$81K	$112K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$59K	$81K	$112K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$59K	$81K	$112K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$59K	$81K	$112K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$59K	$81K	$112K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$59K	$81K	$112K	82	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$59K	$81K	$112K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$59K	$81K	$112K	88	5%
Des Moines, IA	$59K	$81K	$112K	88	4.82%
Great Falls, MT	$59K	$81K	$112K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$59K	$81K	$112K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$59K	$81K	$112K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$59K	$81K	$112K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$59K	$81K	$112K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$58K	$80K	$111K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$58K	$80K	$111K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$58K	$80K	$111K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$58K	$80K	$111K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$58K	$80K	$111K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$58K	$80K	$111K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$58K	$80K	$111K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$58K	$80K	$111K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$58K	$80K	$111K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$58K	$80K	$111K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$58K	$80K	$111K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$58K	$80K	$111K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$58K	$80K	$111K	85	4.9%
San Antonio, TX	$58K	$79K	$110K	87	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$57K	$79K	$109K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$57K	$79K	$109K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$57K	$79K	$109K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$57K	$79K	$109K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$57K	$79K	$109K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$57K	$79K	$109K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$57K	$79K	$109K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$57K	$79K	$109K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$57K	$79K	$109K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$57K	$79K	$109K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$57K	$79K	$109K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$57K	$78K	$108K	80	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$57K	$78K	$109K	88	6.85%
Rockford, IL	$57K	$78K	$108K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$57K	$78K	$108K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$57K	$78K	$108K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$57K	$78K	$108K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$57K	$78K	$108K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$57K	$78K	$108K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$57K	$78K	$108K	80	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$57K	$78K	$109K	85	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$57K	$78K	$108K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$57K	$78K	$108K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$57K	$78K	$108K	80	4.75%
Omaha, NE	$57K	$78K	$109K	88	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$57K	$78K	$108K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$57K	$78K	$108K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$56K	$77K	$107K	78	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$56K	$77K	$106K	95	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$56K	$77K	$106K	82	3.99%
Toledo, OH	$56K	$77K	$107K	78	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$56K	$77K	$106K	90	4.25%
Evansville, IN	$56K	$77K	$107K	78	3.23%
New Orleans, LA	$56K	$77K	$106K	92	6%
Shreveport, LA	$56K	$77K	$107K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$56K	$77K	$107K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$56K	$77K	$107K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$55K	$76K	$105K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$55K	$76K	$105K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$55K	$76K	$105K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$55K	$75K	$104K	84	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$55K	$75K	$104K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$55K	$75K	$104K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$55K	$75K	$104K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$55K	$75K	$104K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$55K	$75K	$104K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$55K	$75K	$104K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$55K	$75K	$104K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$55K	$75K	$104K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$55K	$75K	$104K	88	5.9%
Tulsa, OK	$53K	$73K	$101K	80	4.75%
El Paso, TX	$53K	$72K	$100K	82	None ✓
Wichita, KS	$53K	$72K	$100K	82	5.7%
Lubbock, TX	$51K	$70K	$97K	78	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$51K	$70K	$97K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$48K	$66K	$92K	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 salary FAQ

How much does a Nonprofit Executive Director make?

The median Nonprofit Executive Director salary in the US is $85,000 per year — about $41/hour. Most earn between $62,000 (25th percentile) and $118,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Nonprofit Executive Director?

Entry-level Nonprofit Executive Director positions typically start around $62,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Nonprofit Executive Directors earn?

The top 10% of Nonprofit Executive Directors earn $165,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Nonprofit Executive Directors the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Nonprofit Executive Director salary at $128K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Nonprofit Executive Director salaries going up?

Yes — Nonprofit Executive Director pay is growing about 3.2% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Nonprofit Executive Director Salaryby City (2026)