THE MISSION OF LOWELL OBSERVATORY IS TO PURSUE THE STUDY OF ASTRONOMY, ESPECIALLY THE STUDY OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM AND ITS EVOLUTION; TO CONDUCT PURE RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA; AND TO MAINTAIN QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO BRING THE RESULTS OF ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH TO THE PUBLIC.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 13 reported individuals · Filing year 2024
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Science & Technology organizations nationwide.
- Base
- $202k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $25k
- Base
- $183k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $24k
- Base
- $171k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $17k
- Benefits
- $11k
- Base
- $180k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $15k
- Base
- $185k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $8k
- Base
- $180k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $12k
- Base
- $177k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $13k
- Base
- $164k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $28k
- Base
- $181k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $3k
- Base
- $157k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $22k
- Base
- $154k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $24k
- Base
- $158k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $13k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Executive Director Median to 75th percentile | $202k | — | — | $25k | $237k $252k |
Executive Director/coo Director (Operational) Median to 75th percentile | $183k | — | — | $24k | $216k $230k |
Chief Philanthropy Officer Key Employee 25th percentile to median | $171k | — | $17k | $11k | $204k $217k |
Astronomer Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $180k | — | — | $15k | $203k $216k |
Astronomer Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to median | $185k | — | — | $8k | $202k $215k |
Director of Education Key Employee 25th percentile to median | $180k | — | — | $12k | $201k $214k |
Chief Financial Officer Median to 75th percentile | $177k | — | — | $13k | $199k $212k |
Director of Science Key Employee 25th percentile to median | $164k | — | — | $28k | $196k $209k |
Astronomer Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to median | $181k | — | — | $3k | $193k $205k |
Director of Technology Key Employee 10th to 25th percentile | $157k | — | — | $22k | $187k $199k |
Astronomer Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to median | $154k | — | — | $24k | $186k $198k |
Astronomer Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to median | $158k | — | — | $13k | $179k $191k |
Trustee Board Member 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $19k $20k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the West region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2024, the highest total compensation at LOWELL OBSERVATORY equaled 1% of the organization's total expenses. The median for science & technology organizations is 9%.
Based on 1,078 science & technology 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.
Held steady
from 2023
From $238k in 2023 to $237k in 2024.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the West region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Chief Executive Officer pay fell 1% from 2023 to 2024, while revenue fell 41%.
- Key Employee pay fell 3% from 2023 to 2024.
- Highest Compensated Employee pay rose 3% 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 LOWELL OBSERVATORY
What does the Chief Executive Officer of LOWELL OBSERVATORY earn?
In 2024, the Chief Executive Officer of LOWELL OBSERVATORY received $236,831 in total compensation. This pay is above the median (the midpoint) for Chief Executive Officer roles among Science & Technology organizations nationwide, within the top half of comparable filings. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at LOWELL OBSERVATORY compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Science & Technology organizations nationwide, the 2024 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at LOWELL OBSERVATORY falls between the median and the 75th percentile. In 2024, the highest total compensation at LOWELL OBSERVATORY equaled 1% of the organization's total expenses. The median for science & technology organizations is 9%.
What are LOWELL OBSERVATORY's revenue and expenses?
In 2024, LOWELL OBSERVATORY reported $11.9M in total revenue and $19.5M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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