Fundraiser Salary in California: $89,500 Average

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Average base salary, California

$89,500 / year

≈ $7,450 per month · $43.03 per hour

LocationOr metro area

BLS May 2025 state data for California · median $82,500

25th percentile
$64,500Average
$89,50075th percentile
$105,500

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.

Fundraiser salary by state

Alabama$63,500

Alaska$69,500

Arizona$72,000

Arkansas$54,500

California$89,500

Colorado$82,500

Connecticut$84,500

Delaware$77,500

District of Columbia$93,500

Florida$81,000

Georgia$77,500

Hawaii$69,500

Idaho$71,500

Illinois$74,000

Indiana$73,500

Iowa$74,000

Kansas$72,500

Kentucky$73,500

Louisiana$73,500

Maine$74,000

Maryland$86,000

Massachusetts$87,000

Michigan$72,500

Minnesota$84,000

Mississippi$70,500

Missouri$71,500

Montana$66,500

Nebraska$76,500

Nevada$73,000

New Hampshire$77,000

New Jersey$86,500

New Mexico$71,000

New York$90,500

North Carolina$75,000

North Dakota$84,500

Ohio$73,500

Oklahoma$72,500

Oregon$73,500

Pennsylvania$73,000

Rhode Island$82,000

South Carolina$74,000

South Dakota$78,000

Tennessee$68,000

Texas$66,500

Utah$70,000

Vermont$78,500

Virginia$80,500

Washington$85,500

West Virginia$57,500

Wisconsin$72,500

Wyoming$78,000

About this role

Fundraiser is a professional role in the Business and Financial Operations job family. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

What Fundraisers do

Typical education: Bachelor's Degree

Identify and build relationships with potential donors.
Secure commitments of participation or donation from individuals or corporate donors.
Write and send letters of thanks to donors.
Solicit cash or in-kind donations or sponsorships from individual, business, or government donors.
Create or update donor databases.

Top skills: Speaking Writing Reading Comprehension Persuasion Active Listening Negotiation

Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).

Fundraiser salary by industry

Other Services (except Public Administration)

35,980 workers

$82,000

Educational Services

28,960 workers

$83,500

Health Care and Social Assistance

22,300 workers

$74,500

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation

7,850 workers

$70,000

State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)

7,690 workers

$87,000

Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)

3,780 workers

$82,000

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

3,770 workers

$87,500

Management of Companies and Enterprises

2,870 workers

$81,500

National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.

How this role compares

Fundraiser pays 16% below the average across 32 roles in the Business and Financial Operations job family (family average $95,000).

Similar-paying roles in Business and Financial Operations

Property Appraisers and Assessors$78,500

Training and Development Specialists$78,000

Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage$81,500

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$83,500

Human Resources Specialist$85,000

Buyers and Purchasing Agents$86,500

Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents$73,000

Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists$87,500

Cost Estimator$88,500

Loan Officer$91,000

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Fundraiser make?

The average base salary for a Fundraiser in the United States is $80,000 per year, or about $38.46 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $59,500 and $95,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Business and Financial Operations roles?

The Business and Financial Operations job family averages $95,000 across 32 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.

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