With the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at its core, the mission of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association is to enrich, inspire and transform lives through music, community engagement and education - locally, nationally and internationally.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 10 reported individuals · Filing year 2023
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations nationwide.
- Base
- $787k
- Bonus
- $101k
- Other
- $11k
- Benefits
- $20k
- Base
- $566k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $276
- Benefits
- $51k
- Base
- $628k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $333k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $276
- Benefits
- $50k
- Base
- $355k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $120
- Benefits
- $36k
- Base
- $328k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $2k
- Benefits
- $37k
- Base
- $315k
- Bonus
- $500
- Other
- $492
- Benefits
- $17k
- Base
- $318k
- Bonus
- $500
- Other
- $1k
- Benefits
- $11k
- Base
- $277k
- Bonus
- $500
- Other
- $2k
- Benefits
- $17k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President Above 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers in Illinois | $787k | $101k | $11k | $20k | $953k $1.1M |
Concertmaster Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $566k | — | $276 | $51k | $646k $715k |
Music Director Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $628k | — | — | — | $628k $696k |
Principal Clarinet Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $333k | — | $276 | $50k | $409k $453k |
Principal Trumpet Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $355k | — | $120 | $36k | $407k $451k |
Principal Cello Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $328k | — | $2k | $37k | $404k $448k |
Vp, Cfo, & Assistant Treasurer Above 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers in Illinois | $315k | $500 | $492 | $17k | $345k $382k |
VP for Development Vice President Above 90th percentile | $318k | $500 | $1k | $11k | $344k $381k |
VP for Operations Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $277k | $500 | $2k | $17k | $311k $345k |
Secretary Secretary (Operational) 75th to 90th percentile | — | — | — | — | $102k $113k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 130 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at Chicago Symphony Orchestra 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 1%
from 2022
From $942k in 2022 to $953k in 2023.
Estimated with Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 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 21% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue rose 55%.
- Highest Compensated Employee pay fell 31% from 2022 to 2023.
- Chief Financial Officer pay held roughly steady 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 Chicago Symphony Orchestra
What does the Chief Executive Officer of Chicago Symphony Orchestra earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of Chicago Symphony Orchestra received $953,469 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in Illinois: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at Chicago Symphony Orchestra compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in Illinois, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at Chicago Symphony Orchestra falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at Chicago Symphony Orchestra equaled 1% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
What are Chicago Symphony Orchestra's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, Chicago Symphony Orchestra reported $125.5M in total revenue and $88.6M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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