The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the ocean. Millions of people worldwide draw inspiration from the Aquarium and look to us to advocate for the ocean and its wildlife.
Executive compensation
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 18 reported individuals · Filing year 2023
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Animal-Related organizations nationwide.
| Position | Total |
|---|---|
Executive Director Above 90th percentilevs Animal-Related peers in California | $445k $487k |
Chief Development Officer Above 90th percentile | $442k $484k |
VP of Finance Vice President Above 90th percentile | $338k $370k |
Chief Financial Officer (beg Feb 2023) Above 90th percentilevs Animal-Related peers in California | $306k $335k |
Chief Marketing Officer Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $300k $328k |
Chief Conservation&sci Officer Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $299k $328k |
Chief Human Resources Officer Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $281k $308k |
VP of Animal Care Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $262k $286k |
VP of Global Ocean Initiatives Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $256k $280k |
Controller Above 90th percentilevs all sectors nationwide | $235k $257k |
VP of Gift Planning Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $231k $253k |
VP of Exhibitions Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $230k $252k |
VP Us & Ca Ocean Conservation Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $227k $248k |
VP of Guest Experience Board Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $210k $230k |
Board & Exec Office Sr Mg Officer (Unspecified) | $133k $145k |
Chief Operating Officer (thru Jan 2023) 25th percentile to median | $108k $118k |
Exec. Office Ops Mgr Office Manager Median to 75th percentilevs all sectors nationwide | $100k $110k |
Exec. VP and Deputy Dir. (beg Nov 2023) Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $66k $73k |
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.
Plus 21 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation equaled 0.4% of the organization's total expenses. The median for animal-related organizations is 8%.
Based on 3,692 animal-related 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.
What Animal-Related executives earn in California
Comparable animal-related organizations in California pay their highest-earning executive a median of $75,804.
These are animal-related sector-wide figures, not this organization's reported pay. Based on 426 organizations across 426 filings (2021 – 2024).
See full Animal-Related pay data for California →Common questions about Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation
What does the Chief Executive Officer of Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation received $444,520 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Animal-Related organizations in California: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Animal-Related organizations in California, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation equaled 0.4% of the organization's total expenses. The median for animal-related organizations is 8%.
What are Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation reported $155.9M in total revenue and $108.8M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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