THE MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, INC. ("MSO") REACHES OUT TO DIVERSE AUDIENCES THROUGH CONCERT PERFORMANCES AND NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS. ALL PROGRAMS ARE GUIDED BY THE MSO FAMILY SHARED VISION WHICH STATES THAT THE MSO EXISTS FOR THREE PURPOSES: TO COMFORT, EDUCATE, ENTERTAIN AND EXHILARATE THE HUMAN SOUL THROUGH EVENTS OF CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE, RELEVANCE AND ARTISTIC CHALLENGE; TO EMBRACE, PRESERVE AND FOSTER OUR MUSICAL HERITAGE; AND TO ENHANCE THE VIBRANCY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 8 reported individuals · Filing year 2023
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations nationwide.
- Base
- $362k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $6k
- Benefits
- $7k
- Base
- $317k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $2k
- Base
- $165k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $2k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President & Executive Director Above 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers in Wisconsin | $362k | — | $6k | $7k | $385k $425k |
Music Director Board Member Above 90th percentile | $317k | — | — | $2k | $327k $361k |
VP and Chief Financial Officer Median to 75th percentile | $165k | — | — | $2k | $172k $190k |
VP Artistic Planning Board Vice President Median to 75th percentile | — | — | — | — | $141k $156k |
Musician Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $139k $154k |
VP of Advancement Board Vice President Median to 75th percentile | — | — | — | — | $135k $150k |
Musician Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $126k $140k |
Musician Highest Compensated Employee 10th to 25th percentile | — | — | — | — | $118k $131k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the Midwest region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 30 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC 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.
Down 6%
from 2022
From $409k in 2022 to $385k in 2023.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the Midwest region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Chief Executive Officer pay fell 6% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue rose 10%.
- Board Member pay fell 1% from 2022 to 2023.
- Chief Financial Officer pay rose 5% 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 MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC
What does the Chief Executive Officer of MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC received $384,516 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in Wisconsin: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in Wisconsin, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC equaled 2% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
What are MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC reported $20.4M in total revenue and $23.6M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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