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The average salary for an activist in the United States is approximately $37,694 per year, translating to about $18 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on various factors including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific area of activism, such as environmental, social justice, or political advocacy.
Entry-level activists may start with salaries around $30,000, while those with significant experience can earn upwards of $60,000. The potential for advancement often correlates with tenure and specialized skills in advocacy.
States like California and New York offer higher salaries for activists compared to the national average. Urban areas tend to provide more opportunities and higher compensation due to the concentration of non-profits and advocacy organizations.
Online salary databases show similar trends, indicating that experience level and specific job functions greatly influence earnings. For instance, community organizers often have different pay scales compared to policy analysts in the same field.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level activist | $26,200 | $12.57 |
| Mid-level activist | $37,100 | $17.85 |
| Senior-level activist | $42,600 | $20.49 |
The average activist salary in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average activist salary states are Wyoming, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $43,124 | $20.73 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $44,141 | $21.22 |
| 3 | New York | $44,029 | $21.17 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $38,585 | $18.55 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $39,884 | $19.18 |
| 6 | Washington | $38,782 | $18.65 |
| 7 | Vermont | $35,231 | $16.94 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $43,284 | $20.81 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $37,244 | $17.91 |
| 10 | Maine | $40,169 | $19.31 |
| 11 | Iowa | $34,491 | $16.58 |
| 12 | Texas | $35,578 | $17.10 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $36,266 | $17.44 |
| 14 | Alaska | $35,513 | $17.07 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $35,504 | $17.07 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $37,407 | $17.98 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $32,850 | $15.79 |
| 18 | Nevada | $35,068 | $16.86 |
| 19 | Delaware | $36,255 | $17.43 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $37,037 | $17.81 |
| 21 | California | $37,254 | $17.91 |
| 22 | Ohio | $30,902 | $14.86 |
| 23 | Colorado | $31,182 | $14.99 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $34,159 | $16.42 |
| 25 | Mississippi | $31,361 | $15.08 |
| 26 | Michigan | $30,572 | $14.70 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $34,336 | $16.51 |
| 28 | Kansas | $30,097 | $14.47 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $28,241 | $13.58 |
| 30 | Maryland | $30,583 | $14.70 |
| 31 | Indiana | $30,050 | $14.45 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $29,469 | $14.17 |
| 33 | Arizona | $32,254 | $15.51 |
| 34 | Idaho | $30,028 | $14.44 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $29,884 | $14.37 |
| 36 | Florida | $30,751 | $14.78 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $28,255 | $13.58 |
| 38 | Illinois | $31,760 | $15.27 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $25,850 | $12.43 |
| 40 | Oregon | $31,547 | $15.17 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $27,269 | $13.11 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $30,294 | $14.56 |
| 43 | Montana | $24,483 | $11.77 |
| 44 | Georgia | $28,545 | $13.72 |
| 45 | Virginia | $27,483 | $13.21 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $25,214 | $12.12 |
| 47 | Utah | $23,543 | $11.32 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $25,534 | $12.28 |
| 49 | Alabama | $27,139 | $13.05 |
| 50 | Missouri | $25,920 | $12.46 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $25,636 | $12.32 |
The highest-paying cities for activists are New York, NY, Seattle, WA, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $43,950 | $21.13 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $39,193 | $18.84 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $38,633 | $18.57 |
| 4 | Berkeley, CA | $37,979 | $18.26 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $36,178 | $17.39 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $31,227 | $15.01 |
An activist's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $53,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| 75th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| Average | $37,694 | $3,141 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
The highest paying types of activists are resident, liaison, and organizer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Coordinator | $45,068 | $3,756 | $21.67 | 102,464 |
| Coordinator | $41,599 | $3,467 | $20.00 | 151,508 |
| Organizer | $49,763 | $4,147 | $23.92 | 627 |
| Volunteer | $31,227 | $2,602 | $15.01 | 9,583 |
| Resident | $60,589 | $5,049 | $29.13 | 14,186 |
| Outreach Coordinator | $45,897 | $3,825 | $22.07 | 37,996 |
The average activist salary has risen by $7,568 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average activist earned $30,126 annually, but today, they earn $37,694 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for activists over the last decade.
Compare activist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare activist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,700 | $18.12 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $36,800 | $17.67 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $35,400 | $17.01 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $34,700 | $16.69 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | $33,300 | $16.03 | +3.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up Fundraising | Charity Team Activist | Atlanta, GA | 12/01/2024 | $37,044 |
| Up Fundraising | Street Team Activist | Atlanta, GA | 10/23/2024 | $56,349 |
| Up Fundraising | Street Team Activist | Atlanta, GA | 09/06/2024 | $37,044 |
| Up Fundraising | Street Team Activist | Atlanta, GA | 07/12/2024 | $37,044 |
| Up Fundraising | Charity Team Activist | Atlanta, GA | 06/30/2024 | $56,349 |
| Up Fundraising | Street Team Activist | Atlanta, GA | 05/17/2024 | $37,044 |
| Up Fundraising | Street Team Activist | Atlanta, GA | 05/17/2024 | $37,044 |
| Up Fundraising | Street Team Activist | Atlanta, GA | 04/02/2024 | $37,044 |
| Up Fundraising | Street Team Activist | Atlanta, GA | 03/05/2024 | $37,044 |
| Up Fundraising | Street Team Activist | Atlanta, GA | 01/24/2024 | $37,044 |
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