Management

How much does a fundraising manager make?

The median fundraising manager in the United States earns $123,480 per year, about $59.36 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all fundraising managers earn more, and half earn less.

Median annual salary
$123,480
Median hourly wage
$59.36 /hr
Employed in the U.S.
36,920

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 11-2033.

Fundraising manager salary range

Pay for fundraising managers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $73,700 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $216,660. The average (mean) wage of $137,290 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.

Percentile Annual Hourly
10th percentile $73,700 $35.43 Lowest paid
25th percentile $92,880 $44.66
Median (50th) $123,480 $59.36 Midpoint
75th percentile $166,420 $80.01
90th percentile $216,660 $104.16 Highest paid

Figures are national wage estimates for fundraising managers (SOC 11-2033), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.

Fundraising manager salary by state

Where you work changes the paycheck. Fundraising managers earn the most in New York at $166,420 a year, and the least in Arkansas at $65,840. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.

State Median annual Employed
New York $166,420 4,280
Massachusetts $145,380 2,030
Rhode Island $139,140 230
New Jersey $137,440 790
District of Columbia $136,150 1,100
Washington $135,730 860
California $131,950 5,820
Indiana $131,010 480
Virginia $130,210 690
Vermont $129,770 130
Wisconsin $129,020 210
New Hampshire $128,810 270
Delaware $126,710 140
Maryland $126,130 980
Colorado $124,330 N/A
Minnesota $123,460 650
Maine $121,930 230
Connecticut $121,020 740
Florida $119,600 810
North Dakota $118,420 40
North Carolina $116,950 1,240
Kansas $114,090 150
Georgia $111,640 680
Kentucky $106,810 210
Michigan $106,780 790
Pennsylvania $104,400 1,620
Arizona $103,650 430
Montana $103,040 130
Illinois $101,000 2,790
Ohio $100,140 1,250
Oklahoma $99,990 100
Nevada $98,690 210
New Mexico $97,750 70
Oregon $97,240 850
Texas $96,720 2,670
Tennessee $95,980 270
Iowa $94,950 360
Hawaii $94,420 190
Mississippi $92,990 50
Nebraska $90,920 N/A
Alaska $90,780 N/A
Idaho $87,010 40
Missouri $86,690 300
Alabama $85,600 210
South Carolina $82,700 180
Utah $78,050 200
West Virginia $75,780 70
Arkansas $65,840 200

State median wages for fundraising managers (SOC 11-2033), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.

Job outlook for fundraising managers

The BLS projects employment of fundraising managers to grow 5.4% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 48,800 jobs in 2025 moving toward 51,400 by 2035.

Across the decade, the BLS expects about 3,700 openings a year for fundraising managers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).

How to become a fundraising manager

The typical entry-level education for fundraising managers is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS. Most roles also expect 5 years or more of work experience in a related occupation.

Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.

What affects how much a fundraising manager earns

Company size, industry, and metro area drive most of the pay gap. Executives and managers at large firms in major markets sit near the top of the range, while smaller organizations and rural areas pay lower.

Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (New York, $166,420) and the lowest (Arkansas, $65,840) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.

About 36,920 people work as fundraising managers in the United States. At $123,480 a year, the job pays above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.

Fundraising manager salary FAQ

How much does a fundraising manager make an hour?

The median hourly wage for a fundraising manager is $59.36. The middle half of fundraising managers earn between $44.66 and $80.01 per hour.

What is the highest fundraising manager salary?

The highest paid 10 percent of fundraising managers earn more than $216,660 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.

How much does a fundraising manager make a year?

The median annual salary for a fundraising manager is $123,480. The average (mean) wage of $137,290 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.

Is being a fundraising manager a well paid job?

At $123,480 a year, a fundraising manager earns above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 36,920 people work as fundraising managers in the United States.

Which state pays fundraising managers the most?

New York has the highest median salary for fundraising managers at $166,420 a year. Massachusetts ($145,380) and Rhode Island ($139,140) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.

Is being a fundraising manager a good career?

Employment of fundraising managers is projected to grow 5.4% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 3,700 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.

Do you need a degree to become a fundraising manager?

The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for fundraising managers as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.

Related salaries

See more in Management salaries or browse the highest paying jobs in the U.S.

Sources. National and state wage and employment figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 and the OEWS state files. Growth, openings, education, and training: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2025–2035). Every figure on this page is published by the BLS and is shown without adjustment. View the originals at bls.gov/oes and bls.gov/emp. Last updated 2025-04-02.