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Fundraising Executive Salary in the United States

How much does a Fundraising Executive make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Fundraising Executive in the United States is $291,570 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $140.

However, a Fundraising Executive's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $377,571
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $230,159 to $336,586
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $174,247
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Fundraising Executive Salaries

A Fundraising Executive's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Fundraising Executive Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Fundraising Executive's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $80,854
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $99,785
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $112,915
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $147,677
  • Expert (over 8 years): $288,260
Levels Salary
Developme... Level Fundraising Executive$80,854
Developme... Level Fundraising Executive$99,785
Developme... Level Fundraising Executive$112,915
Developme... Level Fundraising Executive$147,677
Fundraisi... Level Fundraising Executive$288,260
View as Graph

How Do Fundraising Executive Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Fundraising Executives. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $322,826.
  • California: $321,602.
  • Massachusetts: $317,316.

Top Paying Cities for Fundraising Executives

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $367,757
  • San Francisco: $363,731
  • Oakland: $356,065

What Skills Can Increase a Fundraising Executive's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 3.45% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Assisted Living (Mentioned in 3.45% Job Postings): Assisted living exemplifies the shift from "care as service" to "care as business" in the broader health care arena predicted more than three decades ago. A consumer-driven industry, assisted living offers a wide range of options, levels of care, and diversity of services (Lockhart, 2009) and is subject to state rather than federal regulatory oversight. "Assisted living" means depends on both the state and provider in question: variations in state regulatory definitions are significant and provider variables include everything from philosophy, geographic location and auspice, to organizational size and structure.
  • Computer Usage (Mentioned in 3.45% Job Postings): The REGISTER of English associated with computer technology and electronic communication, for both professional and other purposes, such as the creation, use, and maintenance of equipment recreation, such as video games and electronic bulletin boards
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 3.45%
Assisted Living 3.45%
Computer Usage 3.45%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Fundraising Executive's salary.

  • Assisted Living: Can increase your salary by up to 59%.
  • Database Software: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
  • Graphic Design: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Assisted Living $463,596
59%
Database Software $364,463
25%
Graphic Design $338,221
16%
Get Latest Data

Fundraising Executive Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Fundraising Executive roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 35% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 15% above the average. Conversely, Fundraising Executive positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Fundraising Executive as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Fundraising Executive

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$335,306$161.015%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$306,148$147.05%

How Education impacts a Fundraising Executive's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Fundraising Executives enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Fundraising Executive with a Bachelor's Degree is between $225,348 and $257,784).

Fundraising Executive Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Fundraising Executive
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.0%
High School 2.0%
Associates 5.1%
Bachelors 44.4%
Masters 41.4%
Doctorate 7.1%
View as Graph

Fundraising Executive Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Fundraising Executive's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$230,159
Average $291,570/year
$336,586
$19,180
Average $24,298/month
$28,049
$4,426
Average $5,607/week
$6,473
$111
Average $140/hour
$162
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $336,586 $28,049 $6,473 $162
Average $291,570 $24,298 $5,607 $140
25th Percentile $230,159 $19,180 $4,426 $111

Most common benefits for Fundraising Executive

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Fundraising Executive

Here are companies hiring for Fundraising Executive and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Fundraising Executive

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Fundraising Executive?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Fundraising Executive roles, with salaries approximately 15% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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