Our mission is to inspire conservation of the natural world by exhibiting and caring for animals, by excelling in education and research, and by providing an exceptional visitor experience.
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 Animal-Related organizations nationwide.
- Base
- $368k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $229k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $217k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $196k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $161k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $153k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $144k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $137k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President and CEO Above 90th percentile | $368k | — | — | — | $390k $413k |
Chief Advancement Officer Key Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $229k | — | — | — | $247k $262k |
Executive Vice Pres & COO Above 90th percentile | $217k | — | — | — | $227k $240k |
Chief Financial Officer 75th to 90th percentile | $196k | — | — | — | $198k $210k |
VP Creative & Exhibits Board Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $161k | — | — | — | $181k $192k |
Chief Infrastructure Officer Key Employee Median to 75th percentile | $153k | — | — | — | $178k $188k |
VP Conservation Board Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $144k | — | — | — | $155k $164k |
Chief People Officer Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $137k | — | — | — | $152k $161k |
Chief Marketing Officer Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $143k $152k |
Chief Experience Officer Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $132k $140k |
Veterinary Care Highest Compensated Employee 10th to 25th percentile | — | — | — | — | $123k $130k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the South region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 42 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2024, the highest total compensation at South Carolina Aquarium equaled 2% 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.
Up 2%
from 2023
From $382k in 2023 to $390k in 2024.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the South region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Chief Executive Officer pay rose 2% from 2023 to 2024, while revenue fell 3%.
- Key Employee pay rose 6% from 2023 to 2024.
- Chief Financial Officer pay rose 1% from 2023 to 2024.
Pay for the position itself, not any one person. The officeholder may have changed between 2023 and 2024.
Among peers
Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.
Common questions about South Carolina Aquarium
What does the Chief Executive Officer of South Carolina Aquarium earn?
In 2024, the Chief Executive Officer of South Carolina Aquarium received $389,749 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Animal-Related organizations nationwide: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at South Carolina Aquarium compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Animal-Related organizations nationwide, the 2024 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at South Carolina Aquarium falls in the top 10%. In 2024, the highest total compensation at South Carolina Aquarium equaled 2% of the organization's total expenses. The median for animal-related organizations is 8%.
What are South Carolina Aquarium's revenue and expenses?
In 2024, South Carolina Aquarium reported $20.3M in total revenue and $17.3M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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