STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY STRIVES TO CREATE THRILLING, COURAGEOUS, AND PROVOCATIVE ART IN A THOUGHTFUL AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT. WE SUCCEED WHEN WE DISRUPT YOUR ROUTINE WITH EXPERIENCES THAT SPARK CURIOSITY, EMPATHY AND JOY. WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR ENSEMBLE AS WE NAVIGATE, TOGETHER, OUR COMPLEX WORLD.
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 Illinois.
- Base
- $319k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $14k
- Base
- $252k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $16k
- Base
- $250k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $8k
- Base
- $161k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $9k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Executive Director Above 90th percentile | $319k | — | — | $14k | $368k $408k |
Co-artistic Director Officer (Unspecified) | $252k | — | — | $16k | $286k $316k |
Co-artistic Director Officer (Unspecified) | $250k | — | — | $8k | $259k $286k |
Director of Development Median to 75th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers nationwide | $161k | — | — | $9k | $192k $213k |
Producing Director Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to medianvs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers nationwide | — | — | — | — | $145k $161k |
Director of Finance Median to 75th percentile | — | — | — | — | $130k $143k |
Director of Marketing & Communications Director (Operational) 75th to 90th percentile | — | — | — | — | $126k $139k |
Director of Special Projects Highest Compensated Employee 10th to 25th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers nationwide | — | — | — | — | $119k $132k |
Trustee Board Member Median to 75th percentile | — | — | — | — | $28k $31k |
Trustee Board Member 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $19k $21k |
Trustee Board Member 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $16k $18k |
Trustee Board Member Below 10th percentile | — | — | — | — | $1k $1k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 49 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY 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 9%
from 2022
From $339k in 2022 to $368k in 2023.
Estimated with Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Chief Executive Officer pay rose 9% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue rose 109%.
- Chief Development Officer pay rose 4% from 2022 to 2023.
- Highest Compensated Employee pay rose 3% 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 STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY
What does the Chief Executive Officer of STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY received $368,115 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in Illinois: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in Illinois, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY equaled 2% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
What are STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY reported $25.6M in total revenue and $20.6M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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