Across 1,658 Iowa nonprofits, the median total compensation for executive directors is $79,420. 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 Iowa
Compensation varies significantly by organization revenue.
| Org Revenue | 25th | Median | 75th | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | $16,529 | $47,262 | $76,493 | 782 |
| $1M - $5M | $66,082 | $104,592 | $141,094 | 445 |
| $5M - $25M | $102,337 | $165,640 | $222,540 | 280 |
| $25M - $100M | $148,568 | $255,161 | $368,719 | 112 |
| Over $100M | $119,460 | $468,438 | $723,962 | 39 |
Top Cities for Executive Director Positions in Iowa
Cities with the most nonprofit executive directors reporting compensation.
Sample Compensation Records in Iowa
Recent compensation data from IRS Form 990 filings.
$85k
Executive Director
Des Moines, IA|Revenue: $1.3M|2023
$79k
Executive Director
Des Moines, IA|Revenue: $805k|2022
$155k
Executive Director (jan-nov)
Dubuque, IA|Revenue: $733k|2023
$15k
Executive Director, See Sch O
Dubuque, IA|Revenue: $733k|2023
$63k
Executive Director
Dubuque, IA|Revenue: $622k|2022
$23k
Executive Di
Iowa City, IA|Revenue: $42k|2023