THE MISSION OF THE CATO INSTITUTE IS TO KEEP THE PRINCIPLES, IDEAS, AND MORAL CASE FOR LIBERTY ALIVE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, WHILE MOVING PUBLIC POLICY IN THE DIRECTION OF INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, LIMITED GOVERNMENT, FREE MARKETS, AND PEACE.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 9 reported individuals · Filing year 2024
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Public & Societal Benefit organizations nationwide.
- Base
- $712k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $16k
- Base
- $314k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $23k
- Base
- $235k
- Bonus
- $13k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $22k
- Base
- $235k
- Bonus
- $11k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $21k
- Base
- $229k
- Bonus
- $10k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $23k
- Base
- $236k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $23k
- Base
- $222k
- Bonus
- $4k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $9k
- Base
- $217k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $16k
- Base
- $220k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $9k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President and CEO Above 90th percentilevs Public & Societal Benefit peers in District of Columbia | $712k | — | — | $16k | $766k $813k |
Vp, Chief Digital Officer Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $314k | — | — | $23k | $356k $378k |
Vp, Director, Monetary&financial Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $235k | $13k | — | $22k | $288k $306k |
Vp, General Economics & Trade Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $235k | $11k | — | $21k | $284k $302k |
Senior VP for Policy Senior Vice President 25th percentile to median | $229k | $10k | — | $23k | $279k $296k |
Sr VP for Legal Studies Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $236k | — | — | $23k | $276k $293k |
Director of Health Policy Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentilevs Public & Societal Benefit peers in District of Columbia | $222k | $4k | — | $9k | $251k $266k |
Secretary, Vp, Finance & CFO 75th to 90th percentile | $217k | — | — | $16k | $249k $264k |
VP for Development Board Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $220k | — | — | $9k | $245k $260k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 14 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2024, the highest total compensation at CATO INSTITUTE equaled 2% of the organization's total expenses. The median for public & societal benefit organizations is 10%.
Based on 2,608 public & societal benefit 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 12%
from 2023
From $682k in 2023 to $766k in 2024.
Estimated with Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Chief Executive Officer pay rose 12% from 2023 to 2024, while revenue fell 13%.
- Board Vice President pay rose 4% from 2023 to 2024.
- Highest Compensated Employee pay rose 5% from 2023 to 2024.
Pay for the position itself, not any one person. The officeholder may have changed between 2023 and 2024.
Among peers
Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.
Common questions about CATO INSTITUTE
What does the Chief Executive Officer of CATO INSTITUTE earn?
In 2024, the Chief Executive Officer of CATO INSTITUTE received $765,878 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Public & Societal Benefit organizations in District of Columbia: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at CATO INSTITUTE compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Public & Societal Benefit organizations in District of Columbia, the 2024 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at CATO INSTITUTE falls in the top 10%. In 2024, the highest total compensation at CATO INSTITUTE equaled 2% of the organization's total expenses. The median for public & societal benefit organizations is 10%.
What are CATO INSTITUTE's revenue and expenses?
In 2024, CATO INSTITUTE reported $62.8M in total revenue and $47.4M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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