Across 14,413 California nonprofits, the median total compensation for executive directors is $104,020. Each organization counts once, using its most recent IRS Form 990 filing from fiscal years 2019 to 2024. Total compensation includes base salary, bonus, and other reportable compensation.
Data updated July 1, 2026
Executive Director Compensation by Organization Size in California
Compensation varies significantly by organization revenue.
| Org Revenue | 25th | Median | 75th | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | $22,326 | $51,962 | $88,303 | 6,462 |
| $1M - $5M | $84,000 | $134,018 | $189,459 | 4,169 |
| $5M - $25M | $149,254 | $212,378 | $290,649 | 2,488 |
| $25M - $100M | $232,813 | $326,130 | $491,689 | 866 |
| Over $100M | $294,202 | $533,036 | $991,927 | 428 |
Top Cities for Executive Director Positions in California
Cities with the most nonprofit executive directors reporting compensation.
Sample Compensation Records in California
Recent compensation data from IRS Form 990 filings.
$131k
President and CEO
San Diego, CA|Revenue: $3M|2023
$146k
Executive Director
Palo Alto, CA|Revenue: $1.6M|2022
$6k
President
Los Angeles, CA|Revenue: $48k|2024
$7k
President
Los Angeles, CA|Revenue: $164k|2023
$390k
CEO
Los Angeles, CA|Revenue: $27.1M|2024
$367k
CEO
Los Angeles, CA|Revenue: $26.8M|2023