THE MISSION OF THE DETROIT OPERA IS TO BE ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING OPERA COMPANIES IN THE UNITED STATES AND, IN PARTICULAR, TO SERVE AS A MAJOR CULTURAL RESOURCE TO THE CITY OF DETROIT AND THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 5 reported individuals · Filing year 2023
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations nationwide.
- Base
- $250k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $6k
- Benefits
- $8k
- Base
- $220k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $8k
- Base
- $200k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $157k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $8k
- Base
- $157k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $8k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chief Executive Officer Above 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers in Michigan | $250k | — | $6k | $8k | $265k $288k |
Director of Production Key Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $220k | — | — | $8k | $228k $248k |
President and CEO Above 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers in Michigan | $200k | — | — | — | $200k $218k |
Chief Adminstrative Office Key Employee Median to 75th percentile | $157k | — | — | $8k | $165k $179k |
Associate Artistic Directo Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $157k | — | — | $8k | $165k $179k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into April 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 45 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at DETROIT OPERA 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 2%
from 2022
From $259k in 2022 to $265k in 2023.
Estimated with Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into April 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Chief Executive Officer pay rose 2% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue fell 18%.
- Key Employee pay rose 4% from 2022 to 2023.
- Highest Compensated Employee pay rose 2% 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 DETROIT OPERA
What does the Chief Executive Officer of DETROIT OPERA earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of DETROIT OPERA received $264,907 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in Michigan: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at DETROIT OPERA compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in Michigan, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at DETROIT OPERA falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at DETROIT OPERA equaled 1% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
What are DETROIT OPERA's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, DETROIT OPERA reported $17M in total revenue and $19.5M 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 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 moreAre Nonprofit Salaries Public?
What IRS Form 990 discloses about executive compensation, who has to report it, and how to look it up.
Read more