To inspire conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 12 reported individuals · Filing year 2024
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Animal-Related organizations nationwide.
- Base
- $581k
- Bonus
- $60k
- Other
- $52k
- Benefits
- $39k
- Base
- $374k
- Bonus
- $10k
- Other
- $4k
- Benefits
- $26k
- Base
- $312k
- Bonus
- $5k
- Other
- $787
- Benefits
- $12k
- Base
- $245k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $241
- Benefits
- $11k
- Base
- $236k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $208
- Benefits
- $26k
- Base
- $214k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $319
- Benefits
- $38k
- Base
- $215k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $10k
- Benefits
- $25k
- Base
- $183k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $11k
- Benefits
- $25k
- Base
- $182k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $184
- Benefits
- $38k
- Base
- $186k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $901
- Benefits
- $25k
- Base
- $193k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $2k
- Benefits
- $2k
- Base
- $139k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $38k
- Benefits
- $6k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President and CEO Above 90th percentilevs Animal-Related peers in Illinois | $581k | $60k | $52k | $39k | $797k $854k |
Chief Financial and Admin. Officer Above 90th percentile | $374k | $10k | $4k | $26k | $472k $506k |
Sr. VP Development Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $312k | $5k | $787 | $12k | $365k $391k |
Sr. VP Guest Experience Operations Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $245k | — | $241 | $11k | $278k $297k |
Sr. VP Govt Affairs Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $236k | — | $208 | $26k | $267k $286k |
Sr. VP Animal Health Welfare Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $214k | — | $319 | $38k | $259k $277k |
Sr. VP Human Resources Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $215k | — | $10k | $25k | $254k $272k |
VP Marine Mammal Conservation Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $183k | — | $11k | $25k | $223k $239k |
VP Information Technology Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $182k | — | $184 | $38k | $221k $237k |
VP Risk Facilities Mgmt Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $186k | — | $901 | $25k | $218k $233k |
VP Finance Board Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $193k | — | $2k | $2k | $201k $216k |
VP Guest Services Operations Board Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $139k | — | $38k | $6k | $188k $202k |
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 45 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2024, the highest total compensation at Chicago Zoological Society equaled 1% of the organization's total expenses. The median for animal-related organizations is 8%.
Based on 3,692 animal-related 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.
Down 5%
from 2023
From $839k in 2023 to $797k in 2024.
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 fell 5% from 2023 to 2024, while revenue rose 15%.
- Chief Financial Officer pay rose 14% from 2023 to 2024.
- Board Vice President pay rose 11% 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 Chicago Zoological Society
What does the Chief Executive Officer of Chicago Zoological Society earn?
In 2024, the Chief Executive Officer of Chicago Zoological Society received $797,411 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Animal-Related 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 Zoological Society compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Animal-Related organizations in Illinois, the 2024 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at Chicago Zoological Society falls in the top 10%. In 2024, the highest total compensation at Chicago Zoological Society equaled 1% of the organization's total expenses. The median for animal-related organizations is 8%.
What are Chicago Zoological Society's revenue and expenses?
In 2024, Chicago Zoological Society reported $108M in total revenue and $78.4M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
Compare any role, sector, or revenue band
Build your own benchmark from millions of reported positions.
Learn More About Nonprofit Compensation
Guides to help you understand and use this data
Nonprofit CFO Salary
What nonprofit CFOs earn, what drives the number, and how to use public compensation data in a job search or negotiation.
Read moreNonprofit Executive Director Salary
What nonprofit executive directors earn, what drives the number, and how to use public compensation data whether you are a candidate, a current ED, or a board member.
Read moreHow to Look Up Nonprofit Salaries
Two approaches to finding executive compensation at any tax-exempt organization, from raw IRS filings to searchable databases.
Read more