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Major gifts officer salary
Average major gifts officer salary
$84,209
Understanding the Major Gifts Officer Salary
The average salary for a Major Gifts Officer is approximately $84,209 annually. However, this figure can vary significantly based on geographic location, years of experience, and the sector of employment. For instance, professionals in metropolitan areas often earn more due to a higher cost of living and increased demand for fundraising expertise.
In states such as California and New York, salaries tend to be higher, reflecting both the competitive landscape and the strategic importance of major gift fundraising in these regions. It is also essential to consider the specific nonprofit sector, as organizations focusing on education, healthcare, or the arts may offer different compensation packages.
Additionally, experience plays a critical role in determining salary levels. Entry-level Major Gifts Officers may start lower, while those with extensive experience and a proven track record of successful fundraising can command significantly higher salaries. Understanding these variations is crucial for prospective candidates aiming to negotiate their compensation effectively.
For those looking to advance their careers, identifying high-paying industries and states can provide valuable insights into maximizing earning potential as a Major Gifts Officer.
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Where can a Major Gifts Officer earn more?
Major gifts officer salary estimates from across the web
Average major gifts officer salary by state
The highest-paying states for major gifts officers are Nevada, California, and New Jersey. The lowest average major gifts officer salary states are Alabama, Maine, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for major gifts officers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $107,540 | $51.70 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $97,158 | $46.71 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $104,425 | $50.20 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $99,058 | $47.62 |
| 5 | New York | $102,827 | $49.44 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $99,302 | $47.74 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $103,999 | $50.00 |
| 8 | Vermont | $93,233 | $44.82 |
| 9 | South Dakota | $94,694 | $45.53 |
| 10 | Arkansas | $91,850 | $44.16 |
| 11 | Michigan | $99,916 | $48.04 |
| 12 | Delaware | $103,452 | $49.74 |
| 13 | Georgia | $91,642 | $44.06 |
| 14 | Oregon | $96,195 | $46.25 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $86,167 | $41.43 |
| 16 | California | $106,818 | $51.35 |
| 17 | Alaska | $99,668 | $47.92 |
| 18 | Kansas | $91,970 | $44.22 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $84,193 | $40.48 |
| 20 | Washington | $88,224 | $42.42 |
| 21 | Virginia | $84,078 | $40.42 |
| 22 | Indiana | $84,297 | $40.53 |
| 23 | Texas | $86,110 | $41.40 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $95,269 | $45.80 |
| 25 | Arizona | $77,500 | $37.26 |
| 26 | Iowa | $77,886 | $37.45 |
| 27 | Colorado | $78,571 | $37.77 |
| 28 | Idaho | $83,955 | $40.36 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $78,499 | $37.74 |
| 30 | Utah | $84,546 | $40.65 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $75,801 | $36.44 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $77,384 | $37.20 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $76,411 | $36.74 |
| 34 | Maryland | $79,606 | $38.27 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $78,206 | $37.60 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $76,280 | $36.67 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $79,009 | $37.99 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | $76,695 | $36.87 |
| 39 | Alabama | $72,567 | $34.89 |
| 40 | Montana | $79,518 | $38.23 |
| 41 | New Hampshire | $76,074 | $36.57 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $76,241 | $36.65 |
| 43 | Maine | $72,547 | $34.88 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $67,753 | $32.57 |
| 45 | Ohio | $74,086 | $35.62 |
| 46 | Florida | $61,482 | $29.56 |
| 47 | Illinois | $75,251 | $36.18 |
| 48 | Missouri | $73,856 | $35.51 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $73,982 | $35.57 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $69,142 | $33.24 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $67,820 | $32.61 |
Highest paying cities for major gifts officers
The highest-paying cities for major gifts officers are San Francisco, CA, Carson City, NV, and New Haven, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $117,695 | $56.58 |
| 2 | Carson City, NV | $116,229 | $55.88 |
| 3 | New Haven, CT | $104,148 | $50.07 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $103,136 | $49.58 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $100,112 | $48.13 |
| 6 | Northampton, MA | $99,590 | $47.88 |
| 7 | Fargo, ND | $97,421 | $46.84 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $95,608 | $45.97 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $95,237 | $45.79 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $88,468 | $42.53 |
| 11 | Dallas, TX | $87,801 | $42.21 |
| 12 | Alexandria, VA | $84,796 | $40.77 |
| 13 | Milwaukee, WI | $84,422 | $40.59 |
| 14 | Salt Lake City, UT | $84,151 | $40.46 |
| 15 | Towson, MD | $79,815 | $38.37 |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $79,208 | $38.08 |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $78,502 | $37.74 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $77,882 | $37.44 |
| 19 | Philadelphia, PA | $76,976 | $37.01 |
| 20 | Waukegan, IL | $75,574 | $36.33 |
Major gifts officer salary details
A major gifts officer's salary ranges from $53,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $132,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a major gifts officer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $132,000 | $11,000 | $63 |
| 75th Percentile | $106,000 | $8,833 | $51 |
| Average | $84,209 | $7,017 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 10th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
Highest paying major gifts officer jobs
The highest paying types of major gifts officers are vice president of communication, vice president of public relations, and director, customer relations.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Development Director | $107,044 | $8,920 | $51.46 | 63,008 |
| Community Relations Director | $96,788 | $8,066 | $46.53 | 33,569 |
| Public Relations Director | $94,692 | $7,891 | $45.52 | 31,693 |
| Communications Director | $107,700 | $8,975 | $51.78 | 27,939 |
| Community Relations Manager | $71,899 | $5,992 | $34.57 | 32,850 |
| Public Relations Manager | $91,426 | $7,619 | $43.95 | 35,273 |
Top companies hiring major gifts officers now:
Which companies pay major gifts officers the most?
Major gifts officer salaries at Earthjustice and University of Maryland Medical System are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average major gifts officer salary at companies like American Red Cross and Healthpoint are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Earthjustice | $127,637 | $61.36 |
| 2 | University of Maryland Medical System | $126,939 | $61.03 |
| 3 | American Red Cross | $125,873 | $60.52 |
| 4 | Healthpoint | $123,862 | $59.55 |
| 5 | Great Hearts Academies | $122,827 | $59.05 |
| 6 | AltaMed Health Services | $115,508 | $55.53 |
| 7 | Berklee College of Music | $113,097 | $54.37 |
| 8 | Live Action | $111,641 | $53.67 |
| 9 | Cedars-Sinai | $111,587 | $53.65 |
| 10 | Suffolk University | $110,384 | $53.07 |
| 11 | Boston Medical Center | $109,724 | $52.75 |
| 12 | Inspira Health Network | $108,312 | $52.07 |
| 13 | Middlebury College | $103,732 | $49.87 |
| 14 | New York Institute of Technology | $103,427 | $49.72 |
| 15 | WNYC | $102,474 | $49.27 |
| 16 | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | $101,433 | $48.77 |
| 17 | Dignity Health | $101,265 | $48.69 |
| 18 | Carson Tahoe Health | $99,236 | $47.71 |
| 19 | The Motley Fool | $97,837 | $47.04 |
| 20 | NRDC | $97,759 | $47.00 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Major Gifts Officer salary by industry
The average major gifts officer salary varies across industries:
- The average major gifts officer salary in the non profits industry is $86,538, the highest of any industry.
- The average major gifts officer salary in the finance industry is $83,376.
- Major gifts officers in the media industry earn an average salary of $68,760, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for major gifts officers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non Profits | $86,538 | $41.60 |
| 2 | Health Care | $83,376 | $40.08 |
| 3 | Education | $74,464 | $35.80 |
| 4 | Media | $68,760 | $33.06 |
High paying major gifts officer jobs
Major gifts officer salary trends
The average major gifts officer salary has risen by $19,779 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average major gifts officer earned $64,430 annually, but today, they earn $84,209 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for major gifts officers over the last decade.
Compare major gifts officer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average major gifts officer salary over time
Compare major gifts officer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Major gifts officer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $84,200 | $40.49 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $80,900 | $38.90 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $79,300 | $38.11 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | $76,800 | $36.94 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $74,100 | $35.63 | +3.0% |
Recently added major gifts officer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wounded Warrior Project | Major Gifts Officer | Boone, CO | 06/30/2025 | $79,027 |
| Boston Lyric Opera | Major Gifts Officer | Boston, MA | 06/28/2025 | $120,000 |
| Corporation for Public Broadcasting | Mid Level Gifts Officer | Miami, FL | 06/26/2025 | $60,000 |
| Villanova University | Major Gift Officer, West Region | Kane, PA | 06/25/2025 | $112,700 |
| Cedars Sinai | Senior Major Gift Officer-ADV Fundraising | Los Angeles, CA | 06/22/2025 | $120,224 |
| Hinds Hospice | Major Gifts & Development Officer | Fresno, CA | 06/21/2025 | $70,000 |
| Reproductive Freedom for All | Major Gifts Officer | San Francisco, CA | 06/21/2025 | $85,000 |
| The Marine Mammal Center | Major Gifts Officer | Sausalito, CA | 06/20/2025 | $90,000 |
| Derby Academy | Major Gifts Officer | Rowe, MA | 06/19/2025 | $120,000 |
| Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine | Major Gifts Officer | Los Angeles, CA | 06/19/2025 | $93,000 |
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