The mission of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is to foster and maintain an organization dedicated to making music consonant with the highest aspirations of the musical art, creating performances and providing educational and training programs at the highest level of excellence.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 11 reported individuals · Filing year 2023
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in Massachusetts.
- Base
- $34k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $1.7M
- Benefits
- $11k
- Base
- $531k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $31k
- Benefits
- $30k
- Base
- $407k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $4k
- Benefits
- $31k
- Base
- $274k
- Bonus
- $92k
- Other
- $2k
- Benefits
- $6k
- Base
- $338k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $33k
- Base
- $318k
- Bonus
- $11k
- Other
- $4k
- Benefits
- $36k
- Base
- $305k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $42k
- Base
- $320k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $33k
- Base
- $347k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $2k
- Base
- $207k
- Bonus
- $5k
- Other
- $1k
- Benefits
- $13k
- Base
- $71k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $109
- Benefits
- $11k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Former President and CEO Former Officer/director/trustee Above 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers nationwide | $34k | — | $1.7M | $11k | $1.7M $1.9M |
Former President & CEO Former Officer/director/trustee Above 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers nationwide | $531k | — | $31k | $30k | $601k $662k |
Chief Development Officer Above 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers nationwide | $407k | — | $4k | $31k | $452k $498k |
President & Chief Executive Officer Above 90th percentile | $274k | $92k | $2k | $6k | $375k $413k |
Principal Oboe Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $338k | — | — | $33k | $372k $409k |
Associate Concertmaster Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $318k | $11k | $4k | $36k | $370k $408k |
Principal Trombone Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $305k | — | — | $42k | $361k $398k |
Principal Horn Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $320k | — | — | $33k | $354k $390k |
Timpani Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $347k | — | — | $2k | $348k $384k |
Clerk of the Board (until April 2024) Officer (Unspecified) | $207k | $5k | $1k | $13k | $232k $256k |
Chief Financial Officer 25th percentile to median | $71k | — | $109 | $11k | $82k $91k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 44 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC equaled 1% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
Based on 17,098 arts, culture & humanities organizations, each measured at its most recent filing year with reported expenses and compensation.
Funded by
Private foundations whose Form 990-PF Part XV grants matched this organization.
Up 69%
from 2022
From $1M in 2022 to $1.7M in 2023.
Estimated with Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Former Officer/director/trustee pay rose 297% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue rose 26%.
- Chief Development Officer pay rose 9% from 2022 to 2023.
- Chief Executive Officer pay fell 63% from 2022 to 2023.
Pay for the position itself, not any one person. The officeholder may have changed between 2022 and 2023.
Among peers
Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.
Common questions about BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC
What does the Former Officer/director/trustee of BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC earn?
In 2023, the Former Officer/director/trustee of BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC received $1,717,195 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Former Officer/director/trustee roles among Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations nationwide: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Former Officer/director/trustee pay at BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations nationwide, the 2023 pay of the Former Officer/director/trustee at BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC equaled 1% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
What are BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC reported $117.1M in total revenue and $123.7M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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