The mission of the Houston Symphony is to inspire and engage a large and diverse audience in Greater Houston and beyond through exceptional orchestral performances, educational programs and community activities.
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 in Texas.
- Base
- $153k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $486k
- Benefits
- $10k
- Base
- $446k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $31k
- Base
- $348k
- Bonus
- $300
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $8k
- Base
- $247k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $10k
- Base
- $232k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $19k
- Base
- $223k
- Bonus
- $300
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $22k
- Base
- $228k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $198k
- Bonus
- $300
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $31k
- Base
- $205k
- Bonus
- $10k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $8k
- Base
- $200k
- Bonus
- $300
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $26k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Music Director Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $153k | — | $486k | $10k | $649k $693k |
Executive Director/ceo Director (Operational) Above 90th percentile | $446k | — | — | $31k | $495k $529k |
Musician Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $348k | $300 | — | $8k | $364k $389k |
Chief Development Officer Above 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers nationwide | $247k | — | — | $10k | $270k $288k |
Chief Financial Officer 75th to 90th percentile | $232k | — | — | $19k | $263k $281k |
Musician Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $223k | $300 | — | $22k | $253k $270k |
Marketing Director Director (Operational) 75th to 90th percentile | $228k | — | — | — | $240k $256k |
Musician Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $198k | $300 | — | $31k | $237k $253k |
Chief Operating Officer 75th to 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers nationwide | $205k | $10k | — | $8k | $234k $251k |
Musician Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $200k | $300 | — | $26k | $234k $250k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into April 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 100 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at Houston Symphony Society equaled 2% 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 25%
from 2022
From $520k in 2022 to $649k in 2023.
Estimated with Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into April 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Key Employee pay rose 134% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue rose 16%.
- Director (Operational) pay fell 5% from 2022 to 2023.
- Highest Compensated Employee pay rose 6% 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 Houston Symphony Society
What does the Key Employee of Houston Symphony Society earn?
In 2023, the Key Employee of Houston Symphony Society received $648,524 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Key Employee roles among Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in Texas: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Key Employee pay at Houston Symphony Society compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in Texas, the 2023 pay of the Key Employee at Houston Symphony Society falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at Houston Symphony Society equaled 2% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
What are Houston Symphony Society's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, Houston Symphony Society reported $38.8M in total revenue and $36.9M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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