Fundraiser salary in the U.S.
Fundraisers in the U.S. earn a median of $72,550 a year ($34.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 111,040 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $115,820 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $77,200, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fundraisers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| 25th percentile | $57,480 | $27.63 |
| Median | $72,550 | $34.88 |
| 75th percentile | $92,180 | $44.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,820 | $55.68 |
| Average (mean) | $77,200 | $37.12 |
Half of fundraisers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,045.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,022.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,790.38 |
| Weekly | $1,395.19 |
| Hourly | $34.88 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Fundraiser salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $80,840 | 2,350 |
| New York | $80,540 | 11,600 |
| Maryland | $79,780 | 2,010 |
| California | $79,710 | 12,860 |
| Massachusetts | $79,060 | 6,160 |
| Washington | $79,000 | 3,870 |
| Connecticut | $77,730 | 1,350 |
| New Jersey | $77,170 | 1,950 |
| Minnesota | $76,910 | 3,190 |
| North Dakota | $76,040 | 340 |
| Rhode Island | $75,410 | 1,000 |
| Colorado | $74,440 | 2,470 |
| Virginia | $72,610 | 4,010 |
| Vermont | $72,530 | 510 |
| Louisiana | $72,030 | 330 |
| Georgia | $72,010 | 2,690 |
| Wyoming | $71,310 | 90 |
| Delaware | $71,250 | 320 |
| Nevada | $68,530 | 310 |
| Kentucky | $68,270 | 1,030 |
| Nebraska | $68,030 | 770 |
| South Dakota | $66,800 | 80 |
| Maine | $66,790 | 930 |
| Illinois | $66,440 | 4,470 |
| New Hampshire | $66,260 | 810 |
| Indiana | $66,250 | 2,080 |
| Michigan | $66,130 | 3,170 |
| North Carolina | $66,100 | 3,700 |
| Wisconsin | $65,880 | 2,130 |
| New Mexico | $65,440 | 330 |
| Kansas | $64,820 | 1,100 |
| Florida | $64,390 | n/a |
| Arizona | $64,180 | 1,580 |
| Ohio | $64,080 | 3,460 |
| Oregon | $64,080 | 2,090 |
| Oklahoma | $63,950 | 950 |
| Iowa | $63,930 | 1,230 |
| Missouri | $63,860 | 1,670 |
| Hawaii | $63,750 | 440 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,730 | 6,180 |
| Alaska | $62,750 | 290 |
| South Carolina | $62,720 | 1,200 |
| Utah | $61,820 | 920 |
| Tennessee | $61,370 | 1,930 |
| Montana | $61,280 | 700 |
| Idaho | $61,150 | 380 |
| Texas | $60,320 | 4,020 |
| Alabama | $60,120 | 1,120 |
| Mississippi | $57,610 | 230 |
| West Virginia | $54,760 | 260 |
| Puerto Rico | $52,090 | 70 |
| Arkansas | $50,190 | 360 |
Best-paying metro areas for fundraisers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $106,760 | 1,060 |
| Merced, CA | $84,570 | 40 |
| Logan, UT-ID | $84,090 | 110 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $83,830 | 170 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $82,930 | 3,020 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $82,340 | 320 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $82,310 | 130 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $82,180 | 9,520 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $81,910 | 200 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $81,020 | 1,190 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $80,920 | 2,630 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $80,610 | 4,450 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $80,480 | 150 |
| New Haven, CT | $80,460 | 430 |
| Ames, IA | $80,430 | 80 |
Metro areas with the most fundraisers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 9,520 | $82,180 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 4,620 | $80,340 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 4,450 | $80,610 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 4,230 | $77,550 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 3,540 | $72,550 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 3,020 | $82,930 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 2,960 | $74,370 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,630 | $80,920 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,070 | $78,780 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,870 | $76,490 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,370 | $71,340 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,340 | $61,990 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,320 | $78,850 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 1,190 | $81,020 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,190 | $61,880 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $83,050 | $39.93 |
| Project Management Specialist | $102,320 | $49.19 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 | $36.51 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $78,760 | $37.87 |
| Management Analyst | $101,860 | $48.97 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $77,710 | $37.36 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $69,280 | $33.31 |
| Compliance Officer | $80,730 | $38.81 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $78,000 | $37.50 |
| Logistician | $82,320 | $39.58 |
| Cost Estimator | $78,740 | $37.86 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $61,160 | $29.41 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $78,210 | $37.60 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $95,420 | $45.87 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-1131. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fundraiser make in the U.S.?
The median salary for fundraisers in the U.S. is $72,550 a year, or $34.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $115,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fundraisers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of fundraisers in the U.S. earn at least $115,820 a year. The top 25% earn $92,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for fundraisers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,630 a year, and a quarter of fundraisers earn $57,480 or less.
How many fundraisers work in the U.S.?
About 111,040 fundraisers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.