Fundraiser Salary
Fundraisers earn a median $72,550 a year nationally. Business and Financial Operations Occupations
U.S. median
$72,550
$34.88 per hour
Range
$46,630 – $115,820
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
111,040
across the U.S.
▲9.1%
Pay trend: The median for fundraisers in the U.S. rose from $66,490 (May 2024) to $72,550 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 6.7%.
What fundraisers do
Organize activities to raise funds or otherwise solicit and gather monetary donations or other gifts for an organization. May design and produce promotional materials. May also raise awareness of the organization’s work, goals, and financial needs.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.5% (faster than average)
- Openings per year
- 10,000
Employment of fundraisers is projected to grow 5.5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 10,000 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Fundraiser take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$59,869
per year · effective tax rate 17.5%
$4,989Monthly
$2,495Twice a month
$2,303Every 2 weeks
$28.78Hourly
- Federal income tax$7,131
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,498
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,052
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$59,869
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,630 | $22.42 | $39,647 |
| 25th percentile | $57,480 | $27.63 | $48,365 |
| Median (50th) | $72,550 | $34.88 | $59,869 |
| 75th percentile | $92,180 | $44.32 | $73,679 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,820 | $55.68 | $90,309 |
Best cities for fundraisers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $80,920 | $65,757 | $59,170 | 2,630 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $74,370 | $58,866 | $57,400 | 2,960 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $80,340 | $61,552 | $56,853 | 4,620 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $80,610 | $61,656 | $56,625 | 4,450 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $82,180 | $62,803 | $55,794 | 9,520 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $72,550 | $56,422 | $54,464 | 3,540 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $82,930 | $62,610 | $54,155 | 3,020 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $77,550 | $59,386 | $52,292 | 4,230 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $82,930
- New York, NY — $82,180
- Seattle, WA — $80,920
- Washington, DC — $80,610
- Boston, MA — $80,340
- Los Angeles, CA — $77,550
- Philadelphia, PA — $74,370
- Chicago, IL — $72,550
Fundraiser salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $80,840 | +14.1% | $61,798 | $59,150 – $141,910 | 2,350 |
| New York | $80,540 | +3.9% | $61,738 | $53,670 – $132,510 | 11,600 |
| Maryland | $79,780 | +9.7% | $61,529 | $55,040 – $107,190 | 2,010 |
| California | $79,710 | −1.4% | $60,686 | $50,340 – $131,720 | 12,860 |
| Massachusetts | $79,060 | +6.3% | $60,716 | $51,580 – $128,260 | 6,160 |
| Washington | $79,000 | +7.0% | $64,407 | $51,110 – $120,060 | 3,870 |
| Connecticut | $77,730 | +8.2% | $60,813 | $52,780 – $121,850 | 1,350 |
| New Jersey | $77,170 | +4.0% | $60,393 | $51,490 – $129,990 | 1,950 |
| Minnesota | $76,910 | +1.2% | $59,230 | $51,130 – $108,980 | 3,190 |
| North Dakota | $76,040 | +8.3% | $62,101 | $52,000 – $119,550 | 340 |
| Rhode Island | $75,410 | +11.9% | $59,670 | $51,580 – $108,860 | 1,000 |
| Colorado | $74,440 | +1.6% | $58,632 | $50,320 – $113,720 | 2,470 |
| Virginia | $72,610 | +8.4% | $56,550 | $46,810 – $122,140 | 4,010 |
| Vermont | $72,530 | +3.7% | $57,528 | $51,100 – $102,550 | 510 |
| Louisiana | $72,030 | +50.6% | $57,728 | $33,930 – $107,180 | 330 |
| Georgia | $72,010 | +10.1% | $56,375 | $48,160 – $104,460 | 2,690 |
| Wyoming | $71,310 | +17.8% | $58,997 | $46,200 – $98,790 | 90 |
| Delaware | $71,250 | +5.5% | $55,593 | $46,100 – $105,060 | 320 |
| Nevada | $68,530 | +9.4% | $57,041 | $46,630 – $93,870 | 310 |
| Kentucky | $68,270 | +12.5% | $54,586 | $42,220 – $106,590 | 1,030 |
| Nebraska | $68,030 | −8.4% | $54,473 | $46,090 – $102,100 | 770 |
| South Dakota | $66,800 | +2.9% | $55,824 | $53,940 – $119,210 | 80 |
| Maine | $66,790 | +1.8% | $52,490 | $48,890 – $101,160 | 930 |
| Illinois | $66,440 | +4.9% | $52,421 | $43,580 – $107,820 | 4,470 |
| New Hampshire | $66,260 | −5.6% | $55,420 | $47,860 – $109,900 | 810 |
| Indiana | $66,250 | +0.8% | $53,487 | $46,070 – $100,230 | 2,080 |
| Michigan | $66,130 | +3.3% | $52,756 | $43,620 – $106,100 | 3,170 |
| North Carolina | $66,100 | +4.9% | $53,163 | $45,280 – $104,600 | 3,700 |
| Wisconsin | $65,880 | +2.9% | $52,997 | $43,870 – $100,750 | 2,130 |
| New Mexico | $65,440 | +2.7% | $52,851 | $44,510 – $95,890 | 330 |
| Kansas | $64,820 | +4.1% | $51,446 | $43,230 – $103,680 | 1,100 |
| Florida | $64,390 | +2.9% | $53,917 | $40,880 – $128,100 | — |
| Arizona | $64,180 | +3.5% | $52,353 | $40,790 – $97,830 | 1,580 |
| Ohio | $64,080 | +3.0% | $52,688 | $43,980 – $104,220 | 3,460 |
| Oregon | $64,080 | +3.8% | $48,891 | $48,150 – $100,890 | 2,090 |
| Oklahoma | $63,950 | +1.0% | $51,232 | $44,990 – $102,910 | 950 |
| Iowa | $63,930 | +6.7% | $51,770 | $46,340 – $104,040 | 1,230 |
| Missouri | $63,860 | +3.6% | $51,427 | $44,290 – $100,090 | 1,670 |
| Hawaii | $63,750 | +4.5% | $50,088 | $45,940 – $93,180 | 440 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,730 | +2.2% | $51,431 | $45,110 – $98,870 | 6,180 |
| Alaska | $62,750 | +1.2% | $52,600 | $52,000 – $93,860 | 290 |
| South Carolina | $62,720 | +0.8% | $49,969 | $46,590 – $104,610 | 1,200 |
| Utah | $61,820 | +2.0% | $50,036 | $38,810 – $99,490 | 920 |
| Tennessee | $61,370 | +27.4% | $51,491 | $40,500 – $96,690 | 1,930 |
| Montana | $61,280 | +2.6% | $49,295 | $42,310 – $93,630 | 700 |
| Idaho | $61,150 | +1.5% | $49,181 | $45,600 – $105,370 | 380 |
| Texas | $60,320 | +3.4% | $50,647 | $39,730 – $95,770 | 4,020 |
| Alabama | $60,120 | +7.5% | $47,745 | $38,440 – $84,740 | 1,120 |
| Mississippi | $57,610 | +10.7% | $46,897 | $40,340 – $115,010 | 230 |
| West Virginia | $54,760 | +6.7% | $44,448 | $37,250 – $75,590 | 260 |
| Arkansas | $50,190 | +7.5% | $40,763 | $30,800 – $74,620 | 360 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Training and Development Specialist | $69,280 | Bachelor's degree | +10.8% |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 | Bachelor's degree | +6.4% |
| Buyer and Purchasing Agent | $77,710 | Bachelor's degree | +6.0% |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $78,000 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.5% |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $78,210 | Bachelor's degree | +6.0% |
| Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage | $78,240 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -8.7% |
| Cost Estimator | $78,740 | Bachelor's degree | -3.1% |
| Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist | $78,760 | Bachelor's degree | +7.0% |
| Compliance Officer | $80,730 | Bachelor's degree | +3.8% |
| Logistician | $82,320 | Bachelor's degree | +17.6% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fundraiser make?
The national median salary for fundraisers is $72,550 a year ($34.88 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $46,630 and the top 10% earn over $115,820. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays fundraisers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $80,840. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many fundraisers are there in the U.S.?
About 111,040 people work as fundraisers nationwide.