THE DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IMPACTS LIVES THROUGH THE POWER OF UNFORGETTABLE MUSICAL EXPERIENCES BY SUSTAINING A WORLD CLASS ORCHESTRA FOR OUR CITY AND THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 12 reported individuals · Filing year 2023
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations nationwide.
- Base
- $394k
- Bonus
- $24k
- Other
- $7k
- Benefits
- $12k
- Base
- $247k
- Bonus
- $20k
- Other
- $3k
- Benefits
- $29k
- Base
- $241k
- Bonus
- $20k
- Other
- $600
- Benefits
- $29k
- Base
- $250k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $7k
- Base
- $163k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $30k
- Base
- $163k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $27k
- Base
- $156k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $27k
- Base
- $147k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $22k
- Base
- $139k
- Bonus
- $8k
- Other
- $3k
- Benefits
- $20k
- Base
- $125k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $19k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Director & President & CEO Above 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers in Michigan | $394k | $24k | $7k | $12k | $445k $484k |
VP and Chief Revenue Officer Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $247k | $20k | $3k | $29k | $307k $334k |
VP & Chief Admin & Financial Officer Above 90th percentile | $241k | $20k | $600 | $29k | $298k $324k |
Musician Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $250k | — | — | $7k | $270k $293k |
Musician Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $163k | — | — | $30k | $206k $224k |
Musician Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $163k | — | — | $27k | $204k $221k |
Musician Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $156k | — | — | $27k | $198k $215k |
Orchestra Representative (part Year) Board Member Above 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers in Michigan | $147k | — | — | $22k | $178k $193k |
Senior Director of Advancement Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $139k | $8k | $3k | $20k | $175k $190k |
Orchestra Representative (part Year) Board Member Above 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers in Michigan | $125k | — | — | $19k | $152k $166k |
Orchestra Representative (part Year) Board Member Above 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers in Michigan | — | — | — | — | $150k $163k |
Orchestra Representative (part Year) Board Member Above 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers in Michigan | — | — | — | — | $138k $150k |
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 27 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC equaled 0.9% 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.
Down 27%
from 2022
From $610k in 2022 to $445k 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 11% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue rose 4%.
- Board Vice President pay fell 1% from 2022 to 2023.
- Highest Compensated Employee pay rose 31% 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 SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC
What does the Chief Executive Officer of DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC received $445,125 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 SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC 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 SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC equaled 0.9% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
What are DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC reported $40.7M in total revenue and $48.7M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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