Pay · Executive director · California
What nonprofit executive directors make in California
Real pay for executive directors at 9,066 California nonprofits, from Form 990 Part VII. Not a survey, not self-reported.
Median
$104,920
2023–2025 filings
Middle half
$63K–$156K
25th to 75th
Orgs reporting
9,066
Form 990 Part VII
Open jobs
9
Hiring now
By org size
By cause
| Cause | Median | Orgs | Open jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Services | $107,327 | 1,226 | 3 |
| Education | $124,913 | 1,084 | 3 |
| Arts, Culture & Humanities | $81,990 | 963 | 0 |
| Environment | $108,000 | 422 | 0 |
| Community Improvement & Capacity Building | $110,000 | 401 | 0 |
| Health Care | $111,557 | 324 | 0 |
| Youth Development | $93,652 | 294 | 0 |
| Mental Health & Crisis Intervention | $110,031 | 281 | 1 |
| Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations | $113,348 | 269 | 0 |
| Housing & Shelter | $123,031 | 241 | 0 |
| Crime & Legal-Related | $127,811 | 231 | 0 |
| Recreation & Sports | $80,169 | 224 | 0 |
| Religion-Related | $78,213 | 188 | 0 |
| International, Foreign Affairs & National Security | $95,138 | 159 | 0 |
| Animal-Related | $82,692 | 158 | 0 |
| Food, Agriculture & Nutrition | $93,600 | 148 | 0 |
| Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy | $110,252 | 137 | 0 |
| Employment | $122,637 | 126 | 0 |
| Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines | $102,500 | 115 | 0 |
| Public & Societal Benefit | $119,734 | 98 | 0 |
| Science & Technology | $127,326 | 80 | 0 |
| Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness & Relief | $96,250 | 46 | 1 |
| Medical Research | $116,238 | 45 | 0 |
| Social Science | $129,228 | 17 | 0 |
| Mutual & Membership Benefit | $126,800 | 12 | 0 |
By city
San Francisco · $129KLos Angeles · $120KSacramento · $118KSan Diego · $101KOakland · $118KBerkeley · $116KSan Jose · $116KFresno · $99KSanta Barbara · $98KLong Beach · $92KPasadena · $108KSanta Rosa · $101KSanta Cruz · $94KSan Rafael · $140KPalo Alto · $123KSanta Ana · $119KIrvine · $108KBakersfield · $101KStockton · $102KNapa · $119KSanta Monica · $105KRedwood City · $166KVentura · $109KModesto · $95KRiverside · $107KSn Luis Obisp · $102KRichmond · $133KSalinas · $105KWalnut Creek · $108KConcord · $144KSan Mateo · $124KChico · $79KEureka · $90KMonterey · $98KDavis · $83KGrass Valley · $85KRedding · $108KSn Bernrdno · $139KSonoma · $100KPetaluma · $116KTorrance · $91KGlendale · $102KRoseville · $126KAlameda · $137KBeverly Hills · $115KLivermore · $109KAnaheim · $109KBurbank · $139KCovina · $132KLaguna Beach · $65KMenlo Park · $139KEl Cajon · $89KEncino · $95KSherman Oaks · $107KCosta Mesa · $81KCulver City · $110KEscondido · $81KMountain View · $110KPalm Desert · $93KRedlands · $131KSanta Clara · $106KUkiah · $83KCarmel · $61KFremont · $52KNevada City · $80KSan Leandro · $94KWatsonville · $110KCarlsbad · $110KN Hollywood · $102KOjai · $72KTruckee · $80KVisalia · $88KAuburn · $89KOceanside · $85KArcata · $79KCorona · $94KElk Grove · $111KEncinitas · $93KLos Altos · $119KLos Gatos · $97KMill Valley · $128KNewport Beach · $135KOrange · $75KOxnard · $103KPalm Springs · $101KPleasanton · $117KSebastopol · $98KBurlingame · $107KFairfield · $101KInglewood · $108KLa Jolla · $105KMerced · $80KNovato · $79KPomona · $92KSan Pedro · $84KSausalito · $78KW Hollywood · $52KCamarillo · $99KFolsom · $76KGoleta · $117KHayward · $96KHuntingtn Bch · $94KLa Mesa · $68KNorthridge · $99KRch Cucamonga · $92KWoodland · $99KClaremont · $103KE Palo Alto · $120KHalf Moon Bay · $111KMission Viejo · $150KPlacerville · $86KThousand Oaks · $80KTustin · $100KVan Nuys · $83KVista · $77KWoodland Hls · $125KChula Vista · $80KFort Bragg · $81KHollister · $73K
Executive director jobs open now
-
ApplyBay Education Fund- Peers pay
- $132K–$200K
- Org budget
- $5.7M
- Cause
- Education
- Posted
- 4 days ago
-
ApplyYMCA of San Diego County- Peers pay
- $188K–$323K
- Where
- Spring Valley, CA
- Org budget
- $371.8M
- Cause
- Human Services
- Posted
- 5 days ago
-
PH
ApplyPublic Health Foundation
- Peers pay
- $170K–$264K
- Where
- La Puente, CA
- Org budget
- $686.3M
- Posted
- 1 week ago