UNLOCKING THE SECRETS OF LIFE ITSELF IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE SALK INSTITUTE. OUR TEAM OF WORLD-CLASS, AWARD-WINNING SCIENTISTS PUSHES BOUNDARIES OF KNOWLEDGE IN AREAS SUCH AS NEUROSCIENCE, CANCER RESEARCH, AGING, IMMUNOBIOLOGY, PLANT BIOLOGY, COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY, AND MORE. FOUNDED BY JONAS SALK, DEVELOPER OF THE FIRST SAFE AND EFFECTIVE POLIO VACCINE, THE INSTITUTE IS AN INDEPENDENT, NONPROFIT RESEARCH ORGANIZATION AND ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARK: SMALL BY CHOICE, INTIMATE BY NATURE, AND FEARLESS IN THE FACE OF ANY CHALLENGE.
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 Science & Technology organizations nationwide.
- Base
- $751k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $11k
- Benefits
- $17k
- Base
- $568k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $17k
- Benefits
- $19k
- Base
- $507k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $17k
- Benefits
- $9k
- Base
- $471k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $30k
- Benefits
- $14k
- Base
- $386k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $29k
- Benefits
- $23k
- Base
- $407k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $29k
- Benefits
- $3k
- Base
- $261k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $147k
- Benefits
- $14k
- Base
- $307k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $72k
- Benefits
- $19k
- Base
- $217k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $132k
- Benefits
- $12k
- Base
- $316k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $10k
- Benefits
- $17k
- Base
- $263k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $6k
- Benefits
- $8k
- Base
- $240k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $19k
- Benefits
- $14k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President / Professor Above 90th percentilevs Science & Technology peers in California | $751k | — | $11k | $17k | $818k $907k |
Professor Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentilevs Science & Technology peers in California | $568k | — | $17k | $19k | $644k $715k |
Treasurer/svp Finance & Admn Above 90th percentile | $507k | — | $17k | $9k | $572k $635k |
Vp, External Relations Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $471k | — | $30k | $14k | $548k $607k |
Secretary/general Counsel Secretary (Operational) Above 90th percentile | $386k | — | $29k | $23k | $477k $529k |
Professor Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentilevs Science & Technology peers in California | $407k | — | $29k | $3k | $471k $523k |
Trustee/professor Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentilevs Science & Technology peers in California | $261k | — | $147k | $14k | $462k $513k |
Professor Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentilevs Science & Technology peers in California | $307k | — | $72k | $19k | $437k $485k |
Trustee/professor Board Member Above 90th percentile | $217k | — | $132k | $12k | $398k $442k |
Chief Financial Officer 75th to 90th percentile | $316k | — | $10k | $17k | $382k $424k |
Trustee/professor Board Member Above 90th percentile | $263k | — | $6k | $8k | $310k $344k |
Trustee/professor (outgoing Mar 2024) Board Member Above 90th percentile | $240k | — | $19k | $14k | $304k $338k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with San Diego-Carlsbad, CA metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 27 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at The Salk Institute for Biological Studies equaled 0.5% 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.
Down 13%
from 2022
From $938k in 2022 to $818k in 2023.
Estimated with San Diego-Carlsbad, 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 fell 13% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue fell 7%.
- Highest Compensated Employee pay rose 30% from 2022 to 2023.
- Chief Financial Officer pay rose 8% 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 Salk Institute for Biological Studies
What does the Chief Executive Officer of The Salk Institute for Biological Studies earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of The Salk Institute for Biological Studies received $818,031 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Science & Technology 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 Salk Institute for Biological Studies compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Science & Technology organizations in California, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at The Salk Institute for Biological Studies falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at The Salk Institute for Biological Studies equaled 0.5% of the organization's total expenses. The median for science & technology organizations is 9%.
What are The Salk Institute for Biological Studies's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies reported $161.2M in total revenue and $177.2M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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