Median Salary
$72,550
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$34.88
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$115,820
entry level starts ~$46,630
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 111,000 employed
How much does a Fundraiser make?
Fundraisers in the United States bring home a median salary of $72,550 a year, or around $34.88 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $46,630, while the top 10% earn $115,820.
That is $11,160 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Fundraiser salary range by percentile
Half of all Fundraisers earn between $57,480 and $92,180 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,630 | $22.42 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $57,480 | $27.63 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $72,550 | $34.88 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $92,180 | $44.32 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,820 | $55.68 |
|
Highest-paying states for Fundraiser
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Fundraiser pay at $80,840 a year, followed by New York ($80,540) and Maryland ($79,780). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $50,190 — a gap of $30,650 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Fundraiser salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
District of Columbia $80,840New York $80,540Maryland $79,780California $79,710Massachusetts $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
Workforce and education
About 111,000 people work as Fundraisers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $77,200 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Fundraiser make in the United States?
The median Fundraiser salary in the United States is $72,550 per year, or about $34.88 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $46,630, while the top 10% of earners make $115,820 or more.
How does Fundraiser pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Fundraiser median of $72,550 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Fundraisers the most?
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state for Fundraisers, with a median salary of $80,840 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Fundraiser?
Becoming a Fundraiser typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Fundraisers work in the United States?
About 111,000 people were employed as Fundraisers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.