The Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (the Museum), a 501(c)(3) corporation, is the largest science museum in the Western hemisphere and home to thousands of artifacts. For 90 years, the Museum has been a premier destination in Chicago, Illinois. The Museum's mission is to inspire the inventive genius in everyone, and its vision is rooted in the Museum's historic rotunda engraving: Science discerns the laws of nature, industry applies them to the needs of humankind. The Museum welcomes over 1.4 million guests annually and is the top Chicago museum field trip destination for students. Through its education programs, the Museum engages over half a million participants annually in science education programs.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 11 reported individuals · Filing year 2024
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations nationwide.
- Base
- $624k
- Bonus
- $180k
- Other
- $3k
- Benefits
- $35k
- Base
- $289k
- Bonus
- $35k
- Other
- $45k
- Benefits
- $17k
- Base
- $300k
- Bonus
- $13k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $38k
- Base
- $251k
- Bonus
- $25k
- Other
- $956
- Benefits
- $40k
- Base
- $247k
- Bonus
- $45k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $4k
- Base
- $243k
- Bonus
- $20k
- Other
- $351
- Benefits
- $34k
- Base
- $226k
- Bonus
- $10k
- Other
- $347
- Benefits
- $38k
- Base
- $196k
- Bonus
- $35k
- Other
- $4k
- Benefits
- $15k
- Base
- $187k
- Bonus
- $14k
- Other
- $2k
- Benefits
- $23k
- Base
- $169k
- Bonus
- $8k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $15k
- Base
- $152k
- Bonus
- $10k
- Other
- $1k
- Benefits
- $27k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President & Ceo/trustee Above 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers in Illinois | $624k | $180k | $3k | $35k | $924k $989k |
VP - Exhibitions, Collections, Cco Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $289k | $35k | $45k | $17k | $394k $422k |
VP - Chief Financial Officer Above 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers in Illinois | $300k | $13k | — | $38k | $360k $385k |
VP - Chief of People and Culture Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $251k | $25k | $956 | $40k | $325k $348k |
VP - Chief Administrative Officer Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $247k | $45k | — | $4k | $304k $325k |
Ruth D. & Ken M. Davee Vp, Education Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $243k | $20k | $351 | $34k | $303k $324k |
VP - Chief Marketing & Revenue Board Vice President Above 90th percentile | $226k | $10k | $347 | $38k | $282k $302k |
VP - Govt Affairs/chief Bus Officer Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $196k | $35k | $4k | $15k | $257k $275k |
AVP - Information Technology Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $187k | $14k | $2k | $23k | $233k $249k |
AVP - Exhibitions & Partnerships Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $169k | $8k | — | $15k | $198k $211k |
VP - General Counsel Board Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $152k | $10k | $1k | $27k | $195k $209k |
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 91 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2024, the highest total compensation at Kenneth C Griffin Museum of Science and Industry 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 6%
from 2023
From $874k in 2023 to $924k 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 rose 6% from 2023 to 2024, while revenue rose 14%.
- Board Vice President pay rose 13% from 2023 to 2024.
- Chief Financial Officer pay rose 5% 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 Kenneth C Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
What does the Chief Executive Officer of Kenneth C Griffin Museum of Science and Industry earn?
In 2024, the Chief Executive Officer of Kenneth C Griffin Museum of Science and Industry received $923,879 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 Kenneth C Griffin Museum of Science and Industry compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in Illinois, the 2024 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at Kenneth C Griffin Museum of Science and Industry falls in the top 10%. In 2024, the highest total compensation at Kenneth C Griffin Museum of Science and Industry equaled 1% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
What are Kenneth C Griffin Museum of Science and Industry's revenue and expenses?
In 2024, Kenneth C Griffin Museum of Science and Industry reported $66.4M in total revenue and $62.3M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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