THE ACADEMY IS A RENOWNED SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION WITH A MISSION TO REGENERATE THE NATURAL WORLD THROUGH SCIENCE, LEARNING, AND COLLABORATION. BASED IN SAN FRANCISCO'S GOLDEN GATE PARK, IT IS HOME TO A WORLD-CLASS AQUARIUM, PLANETARIUM, RAINFOREST, AND NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM AS WELL AS INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, ALL UNDER ONE LIVING ROOF. THROUGH GLOBAL EXPEDITIONS, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, AND STRATEGIC AREAS OF FOCUS ON ISLANDS, CORAL REEFS, AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, ACADEMY SCIENTISTS STRIVE TO GATHER NEW KNOWLEDGE ABOUT LIFE'S DIVERSITY AND THE PROCESS OF EVOLUTION AND RAPIDLY APPLY THAT UNDERSTANDING TO OUR EFFORTS TO REGENERATE THE NATURAL WORLD. THROUGH EXHIBITIONS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT ADDRESS THESE SAME TOPICS-DELIVERED TO THE PUBLIC ON-SITE AT THE ACADEMY'S WORLD-CLASS AQUARIUM, PLANETARIUM, RAINFOREST, AND NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, IN THE COMMUNITY, IN BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS AROUND THE WORLD.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 14 reported individuals · Filing year 2023
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in California.
- Base
- $526k
- Bonus
- $156k
- Other
- $3k
- Benefits
- $254k
- Base
- $358k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $2k
- Benefits
- $40k
- Base
- $357k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $1k
- Benefits
- $1k
- Base
- $295k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $2k
- Benefits
- $43k
- Base
- $286k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $2k
- Benefits
- $41k
- Base
- $228k
- Bonus
- $75k
- Other
- $531
- Benefits
- $16k
- Base
- $263k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $922
- Benefits
- $41k
- Base
- $232k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $803
- Benefits
- $44k
- Base
- $235k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $385
- Benefits
- $36k
- Base
- $167k
- Bonus
- $49k
- Other
- $1k
- Benefits
- $41k
- Base
- $213k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $510
- Benefits
- $38k
- Base
- $203k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $1k
- Benefits
- $36k
- Base
- $229k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $2k
- Benefits
- $17k
- Base
- $111k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $51k
- Benefits
- $4k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Executive Director Above 90th percentile | $526k | $156k | $3k | $254k | $956k $1M |
Chief Experience Officer Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $358k | — | $2k | $40k | $416k $454k |
Chief Philanthropy Officer Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $357k | — | $1k | $1k | $376k $409k |
General Counsel & Chief Risk Officer Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $295k | — | $2k | $43k | $354k $385k |
Chief of Science & Dean of Rsrch Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $286k | — | $2k | $41k | $344k $374k |
Interim Chief Financial Officer Above 90th percentile | $228k | $75k | $531 | $16k | $333k $362k |
Curator, Ichthyology Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $263k | — | $922 | $41k | $318k $347k |
Sr Director, Steinhart Aquarium Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $232k | — | $803 | $44k | $289k $314k |
COO & Head of Government Affairs Above 90th percentile | $235k | — | $385 | $36k | $283k $308k |
Drctr of Sales/business Prtnrshps Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $167k | $49k | $1k | $41k | $267k $291k |
Interim Dean of Education Key Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $213k | — | $510 | $38k | $261k $285k |
Curator, Entomology Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $203k | — | $1k | $36k | $250k $273k |
Sr Director, Morrison Planetarium Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $229k | — | $2k | $17k | $248k $270k |
Chief People & Culture Officer Key Employee Median to 75th percentile | $111k | — | $51k | $4k | $167k $181k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into April 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 43 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES equaled 0.8% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
Based on 17,094 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.
Among peers
Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.
Common questions about CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
What does the Chief Executive Officer of CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES received $955,564 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in California: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in California, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES equaled 0.8% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
What are CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES reported $90.5M in total revenue and $114.3M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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