THE PLANETARY SOCIETY EMPOWERS THE WORLD'S CITIZENS TO ADVANCE SPACE SCIENCE AND EXPLORATION. TOGETHER WITH OUR MEMBERS, THE PLANETARY SOCIETY DEVELOPS SPACE TECHNOLOGY, GUIDES FUTURE SPACE POLICY, AND INSPIRES PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO VALUE THE ADVENTURE OF EXPLORATION AND THE JOY OF DISCOVERY.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 6 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
- $234k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $214k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $12k
- Base
- $181k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $10k
- Base
- $175k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $14k
- Base
- $165k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $8k
- Base
- $158k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $12k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Director and CEO Above 90th percentile | $234k | — | — | — | $251k $277k |
COO 75th to 90th percentile | $214k | — | — | $12k | $240k $266k |
Chief Financial Officer 75th to 90th percentile | $181k | — | — | $10k | $203k $225k |
Chief Development Officer 75th to 90th percentile | $175k | — | — | $14k | $202k $223k |
Chief of Space Policy Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $165k | — | — | $8k | $184k $204k |
Chief Scientist Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $158k | — | — | $12k | $182k $201k |
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 12 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at THE PLANETARY SOCIETY equaled 3% 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 4%
from 2022
From $241k in 2022 to $251k 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.
Chief Executive Officer pay rose 4% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue fell 18%.
- Chief Operating Officer pay rose 4% from 2022 to 2023.
- Chief Development Officer pay rose 5% 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 PLANETARY SOCIETY
What does the Chief Executive Officer of THE PLANETARY SOCIETY earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of THE PLANETARY SOCIETY received $250,765 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in California: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at THE PLANETARY SOCIETY compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in California, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at THE PLANETARY SOCIETY falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at THE PLANETARY SOCIETY equaled 3% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
What are THE PLANETARY SOCIETY's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, THE PLANETARY SOCIETY reported $5.2M in total revenue and $7.2M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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