Nonprofit RolesNonprofit executive director salary in Illinois
Half of nonprofit executive directors in Illinois were paid more than $131,061 and half less, based on 3,100 orgs' filings from 2023 to 2025.
| Budget | Lower quarter | Median | Upper quarter | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All budgets | $79,715 | $131,061 | $215,633 | 3,100 |
| Under $500K | $36,000 | $56,073 | $77,270 | 672 |
| $500K to $1M | $73,077 | $95,214 | $124,852 | 407 |
| $1M to $5M | $101,352 | $136,399 | $180,946 | 1,009 |
| $5M to $25M | $155,844 | $212,819 | $302,644 | 667 |
| Over $25M | $242,848 | $374,643 | $691,810 | 345 |
How we get these numbers
Nonprofits file a Form 990 with the IRS each year. It lists pay for officers and top staff. We take each org's most recent filing and find the paid, full-time person in this role, by title: executive director, CEO, or president and CEO, or similar. Deputies, assistants, interims, and people who hold two roles at once are left out.
Pay here is what the 990 reports as W-2 pay from the org and related orgs. It leaves out benefits and retirement. We only show a budget size when at least 10 orgs are in it.
Small nonprofits file a shorter form, or none, so they show up less here. 990s also lag by a year or two. Treat these numbers as a starting point, not a final answer.
Looking, or weighing an offer?
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