California Median
$79,710
per year
Hourly Rate
$38.32
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+10% vs US median
US median $72,550
State Rank
#4 of 51
12,860 employed here
How much does a Fundraiser make in California?
A Fundraiser working in California earns a median salary of $79,710 per year, or about $38.32 per hour. That is 10% above the national median of $72,550 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $50,340 while the top 10% make $131,720 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $62,360 and $101,930 a year.
Fundraiser salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,340 | $24.20 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $62,360 | $29.98 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $79,710 | $38.32 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $101,930 | $49.00 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,720 | $63.33 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 4th out of 51 states and territories for Fundraiser pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Fundraiser salary in other states
District of Columbia $80,840New York $80,540Maryland $79,780Massachusetts $79,060Washington $79,000Connecticut $77,730New Jersey $77,170Minnesota $76,910North Dakota $76,040Rhode Island $75,410Colorado $74,440Virginia $72,610Vermont $72,530Louisiana $72,030Georgia $72,010Wyoming $71,310Delaware $71,250Nevada $68,530Kentucky $68,270Nebraska $68,030South Dakota $66,800Maine $66,790Illinois $66,440New Hampshire $66,260Indiana $66,250Michigan $66,130North Carolina $66,100Wisconsin $65,880New Mexico $65,440Kansas $64,820Florida $64,390Arizona $64,180Ohio $64,080Oregon $64,080Oklahoma $63,950Iowa $63,930Missouri $63,860Hawaii $63,750Pennsylvania $63,730Alaska $62,750South Carolina $62,720Utah $61,820Tennessee $61,370Montana $61,280Idaho $61,150Texas $60,320Alabama $60,120Mississippi $57,610West Virginia $54,760Arkansas $50,190
Working as a Fundraiser in California
Nationally, about 111,000 people work as Fundraisers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($79,710) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Fundraiser make in California?
The median Fundraiser salary in California is $79,710 per year, or about $38.32 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $50,340 at the entry level to $131,720 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Fundraisers about 10% more than the national median of $72,550. California ranks 4th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Fundraisers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $79,710 a year. About 12,860 Fundraisers are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Fundraiser salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.