PACIFIC SYMPHONY, A CORNERSTONE CULTURAL ORGANIZATION SERVING ORANGE COUNTY, REACHES OVER 225,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY WITH DIVERSE ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCES, CHAMBER MUSIC, OPERA, CHORAL MUSIC, AND PREMIERES OF NEW WORKS. BROADCASTING 12 CLASSICAL SERIES PERFORMANCES ON KUSC RADIO EXPANDS THE SYMPHONY'S REACH. THROUGH EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS LIKE HEARTSTRINGS, SYMPHONY IN THE CITIES, THE LANTERN FESTIVAL, AND SYMPHONY ON THE GO, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS GAIN FREE ACCESS TO THE SYMPHONY'S OFFERINGS. PACIFIC SYMPHONY'S COMMITMENT EXTENDS TO MUSIC EDUCATION, PROVIDING ASSEMBLIES IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND TRAINING OVER 300 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS YEARLY THROUGH PACIFIC SYMPHONY YOUTH ENSEMBLES.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 12 reported individuals · Filing year 2023
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in California.
- Base
- $473k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $14k
- Benefits
- $8k
- Base
- $346k
- Bonus
- $30k
- Other
- $8k
- Benefits
- $6k
- Base
- $212k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $11k
- Base
- $184k
- Bonus
- $13k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $7k
- Base
- $185k
- Bonus
- $10k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $7k
- Base
- $177k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $434
- Base
- $155k
- Bonus
- $10k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $7k
- Base
- $160k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $8k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Music Director Key Employee Above 90th percentile | $473k | — | $14k | $8k | $496k $548k |
President Above 90th percentile | $346k | $30k | $8k | $6k | $413k $456k |
Concert Master Key Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $212k | — | — | $11k | $222k $246k |
EVP & COO 75th to 90th percentile | $184k | $13k | — | $7k | $210k $231k |
VP of Dev & Ext Rel(thru 08/23 Board Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $185k | $10k | — | $7k | $204k $225k |
Sr Director of Major Gifts Key Employee Median to 75th percentile | $177k | — | — | $434 | $183k $202k |
VP of Artistic Planning & Prod Board Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $155k | $10k | — | $7k | $176k $195k |
Sr. Exec of Camp (thru 09/23) Former Officer/director/trustee Median to 75th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers nationwide | $160k | — | — | $8k | $169k $187k |
Sr. Director of Finance Median to 75th percentile | — | — | — | — | $134k $148k |
VP of Education & Community Board Vice President 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $120k $133k |
Dir. of Orchestra Personnel Highest Compensated Employee 10th to 25th percentile | — | — | — | — | $114k $126k |
Payroll & Benefit Administrato Highest Compensated Employee 10th to 25th percentile | — | — | — | — | $110k $122k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 74 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at Pacific Symphony 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 1%
from 2022
From $490k in 2022 to $496k in 2023.
Estimated with Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Key Employee pay rose 1% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue rose 11%.
- Chief Executive Officer pay rose 5% from 2022 to 2023.
- Board Vice President pay fell 19% 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 Pacific Symphony
What does the Key Employee of Pacific Symphony earn?
In 2023, the Key Employee of Pacific Symphony received $495,728 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Key Employee roles among Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in California: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Key Employee pay at Pacific Symphony compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in California, the 2023 pay of the Key Employee at Pacific Symphony falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at Pacific Symphony equaled 2% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
What are Pacific Symphony's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, Pacific Symphony reported $26.4M in total revenue and $23.8M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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