TO EXPLORE, UNDERSTAND AND EXPLAIN THE ORIGIN AND NATURE OF LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE AND THE EVOLUTION OF INTELLIGENCE.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 9 reported individuals · Filing year 2023
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Science & Technology organizations in California.
- Base
- $334k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $36k
- Base
- $235k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $52k
- Base
- $208k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $36k
- Base
- $214k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $99
- Base
- $186k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $29k
- Base
- $204k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $489
- Base
- $168k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $31k
- Base
- $192k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $489
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Secretary, President & CEO 75th to 90th percentile | $334k | — | — | $36k | $397k $435k |
Senior Scientist Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $235k | — | — | $52k | $306k $335k |
Data Scientist Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $208k | — | — | $36k | $267k $292k |
Senior Scientific Programmer Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $214k | — | — | $99 | $231k $253k |
Chief Financial Officer Median to 75th percentilevs Science & Technology peers nationwide | $186k | — | — | $29k | $230k $252k |
Senior Scientist Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $204k | — | — | $489 | $221k $242k |
Deputy Director, Operations Director (Operational) Median to 75th percentilevs Science & Technology peers nationwide | $168k | — | — | $31k | $213k $233k |
Research Scientist Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $192k | — | — | $489 | $208k $228k |
Director Board Member 10th to 25th percentilevs Science & Technology peers nationwide | — | — | — | — | $7k $8k |
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 18 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at SETI INSTITUTE 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.
Up 11%
from 2022
From $359k in 2022 to $397k in 2023.
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 rose 11% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue fell 74%.
- Highest Compensated Employee pay rose 5% from 2022 to 2023.
- Chief Financial Officer pay rose 7% 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 SETI INSTITUTE
What does the Chief Executive Officer of SETI INSTITUTE earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of SETI INSTITUTE received $397,344 in total compensation. This pay is in the top quarter for Chief Executive Officer roles among Science & Technology organizations in California, though not the top 10% of comparable filings. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at SETI INSTITUTE compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Science & Technology organizations in California, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at SETI INSTITUTE falls between the 75th and 90th percentiles. In 2023, the highest total compensation at SETI INSTITUTE equaled 1% of the organization's total expenses. The median for science & technology organizations is 9%.
What are SETI INSTITUTE's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, SETI INSTITUTE reported $55.2M in total revenue and $28.8M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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