TO THRILL, INSPIRE AND EDUCATE THROUGH THE SHARED EXPERIENCE OF OPERA. SEATTLE OPERA IS VITAL TO THE DYNAMIC CULTURAL AND CIVIC LIFE OF OUR REGION AND TO THE EVOLUTION OF OPERA ACROSS THE WORLD.
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
- $290k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $14k
- Base
- $169k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $11k
- Base
- $132k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $37k
- Benefits
- $11k
- Base
- $145k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $20k
- Benefits
- $11k
- Base
- $161k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $13k
- Base
- $149k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $10k
- Base
- $149k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $11k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
General Director Until 10/31/24 Director (Operational) Above 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers in Washington | $290k | — | — | $14k | $304k $325k |
Director of Marketing and Communications Director (Operational) 75th to 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers in Washington | $169k | — | — | $11k | $179k $191k |
Director of Production Until 11/20/24 Key Employee Median to 75th percentile | $132k | — | $37k | $11k | $179k $191k |
General & Artistic Director From 11/1/24 Director (Operational) 75th to 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers in Washington | $145k | — | $20k | $11k | $177k $188k |
CFO 75th to 90th percentile | $161k | — | — | $13k | $174k $186k |
Director of Artistic Administration and Planning Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $149k | — | — | $10k | $159k $170k |
COO Median to 75th percentile | $149k | — | — | $11k | $159k $170k |
Director of Development Median to 75th percentile | — | — | — | — | $149k $159k |
Master Carpenter Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $122k $130k |
Director of Programs & Partnerships Highest Compensated Employee 10th to 25th percentile | — | — | — | — | $117k $125k |
Controller 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $105k $112k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into April 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 51 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2024, the highest total compensation at SEATTLE OPERA 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.
Fell 14%
over 2 years
From $355k in 2022 to $304k in 2024.
Estimated with Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into April 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Director (Operational) pay fell 14% from 2022 to 2024, while revenue fell 4%.
- Chief Financial Officer pay rose 26% from 2023 to 2024.
- Highest Compensated Employee pay rose 6% from 2022 to 2024.
Pay for the position itself, not any one person. The officeholder may have changed between 2022 and 2024.
Among peers
Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.
Common questions about SEATTLE OPERA
What does the Director (Operational) of SEATTLE OPERA earn?
In 2024, the Director (Operational) of SEATTLE OPERA received $304,409 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Director (Operational) roles among Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in Washington: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Director (Operational) pay at SEATTLE OPERA compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in Washington, the 2024 pay of the Director (Operational) at SEATTLE OPERA falls in the top 10%. In 2024, the highest total compensation at SEATTLE OPERA equaled 1% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
What are SEATTLE OPERA's revenue and expenses?
In 2024, SEATTLE OPERA reported $22.2M in total revenue and $25.3M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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