THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART IS A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT CORPORATION ESTABLISHED IN 1979 AS THE ONLY ARTIST-FOUNDED MUSEUM IN LOS ANGELES. THE MUSEUM IS DEDICATED TO COLLECTING AND EXHIBITING CONTEMPORARY ART AND HOUSES ONE OF THE MOST COMPELLING COLLECTIONS OF CONTEMPORARY ART IN THE WORLD, COMPRISING APPROXIMATELY 8,000 OBJECTS. THE MUSEUM IS COMMITTED TO THE COLLECTION, PRESENTATION, AND INTERPRETATION OF ART CREATED AFTER 1940, IN ALL MEDIA, AND TO PRESERVING THAT WORK FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE MUSEUM PROVIDES LEADERSHIP IN THE FIELD BY IDENTIFYING AND PRESENTING THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AND CHALLENGING ART OF OUR TIME, ACTIVELY SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF NEW WORK, AND PRODUCING ORIGINAL SCHOLARSHIP. THE MUSEUM ENGAGES AUDIENCES THROUGH AN AMBITIOUS PROGRAM OF EXHIBITIONS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, PUBLISHING, AND FREE GENERAL ADMISSION.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 8 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
- $727k
- Bonus
- $50k
- Other
- $100k
- Benefits
- $27k
- Base
- $247k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $25k
- Base
- $248k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $18k
- Base
- $235k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $30k
- Base
- $215k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $14k
- Base
- $154k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $8k
- Base
- $146k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $11k
- Base
- $133k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $15k
- Benefits
- $6k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Director Officer (Unspecified) | $727k | $50k | $100k | $27k | $904k $999k |
Chief Curator & Director of Cultural Affairs Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $247k | — | — | $25k | $272k $301k |
Chief Operating Officer 75th to 90th percentile | $248k | — | — | $18k | $266k $294k |
Chief Financial Officer 75th to 90th percentile | $235k | — | — | $30k | $264k $292k |
Chief People & Culture Officer Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $215k | — | — | $14k | $229k $252k |
Controller 75th to 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers nationwide | $154k | — | — | $8k | $162k $179k |
Sr Curator Dir Acquisitions & Collections Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $146k | — | — | $11k | $157k $173k |
Chief Communication Officer Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $133k | — | $15k | $6k | $154k $170k |
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 39 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART LOS ANGELES equaled 4% 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.
Down 5%
from 2022
From $950k in 2022 to $904k 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.
Highest Compensated Employee pay rose 78% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue rose 39%.
- Chief Financial Officer pay fell 11% 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 THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART LOS ANGELES
What does the Highest Compensated Employee of THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART LOS ANGELES earn?
In 2023, the Highest Compensated Employee of THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART LOS ANGELES received $272,014 in total compensation. This pay is in the top quarter for Highest Compensated Employee roles among Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in California, though not the top 10% of comparable filings. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Highest Compensated Employee pay at THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART LOS ANGELES compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in California, the 2023 pay of the Highest Compensated Employee at THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART LOS ANGELES falls between the 75th and 90th percentiles. In 2023, the highest total compensation at THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART LOS ANGELES equaled 4% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
What are THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART LOS ANGELES's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART LOS ANGELES reported $23.6M in total revenue and $25M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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