TO FURTHER THE OPERATIC ART FORM BY PRESENTING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCES OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY IN A VARIED REPERTOIRE OF NEW AS WELL AS RARELY PERFORMED AND STANDARD WORKS, TO ENSURE EXCELLENCE OF OPERA'S FUTURE THROUGH ITS APPRENTICE PROGRAMS FOR ARTISTS, TECHNICIANS AND ARTS ADMINISTRATORS, AND TO FOSTER AND ENRICH AN UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION FOR OPERA IN THE COMMUNITY BY OUTREACH TO A DIVERSE PUBLIC.
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 nationwide.
- Base
- $400k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $131k
- Benefits
- $29k
- Base
- $264k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
- Base
- $207k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $10k
- Base
- $189k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $29k
- Base
- $133k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $6k
- Base
- $116k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- —
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
General Director Director (Operational) Above 90th percentile | $400k | — | $131k | $29k | $592k $649k |
Music Director Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentile | $264k | — | — | — | $264k $289k |
Chief Financial Officer 75th to 90th percentile | $207k | — | — | $10k | $249k $273k |
Chief Artistic Advisor Highest Compensated Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $189k | — | — | $29k | $218k $238k |
Director of Operations Median to 75th percentile | $133k | — | — | $6k | $158k $173k |
Director of Human Resources Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $146k $160k |
Director of Institutional Giving Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $139k $153k |
Dir. of Development (thru 2/10/2023) Former Officer/director/trustee 25th percentile to median | $116k | — | — | — | $119k $130k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the West region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 45 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at THE SANTA FE OPERA 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.
Held steady
from 2022
From $598k in 2022 to $592k in 2023.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the West region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Director (Operational) pay fell 1% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue fell 6%.
- Highest Compensated Employee pay rose 3% from 2022 to 2023.
- Chief Financial Officer pay rose 2% from 2022 to 2023.
Pay for the position itself, not any one person. The officeholder may have changed between 2022 and 2023.
Revenue and expenses over time
THE SANTA FE OPERA reported revenue and expenses across 2 filing years.
What Arts, Culture & Humanities executives earn in New Mexico
Comparable arts, culture & humanities organizations in New Mexico pay their highest-earning executive a median of $47,820.
These are arts, culture & humanities sector-wide figures, not this organization's reported pay. Based on 141 organizations across 141 filings (2020 – 2024).
See full Arts, Culture & Humanities pay data for New Mexico →Common questions about THE SANTA FE OPERA
What does the Director (Operational) of THE SANTA FE OPERA earn?
In 2023, the Director (Operational) of THE SANTA FE OPERA received $592,486 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Director (Operational) roles among Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations nationwide: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Director (Operational) pay at THE SANTA FE OPERA compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations nationwide, the 2023 pay of the Director (Operational) at THE SANTA FE OPERA falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at THE SANTA FE OPERA equaled 2% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
What are THE SANTA FE OPERA's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, THE SANTA FE OPERA reported $35.1M in total revenue and $31.8M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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