Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
5 years or more
None
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Fundraising managers oversee efforts to secure financial support for organizations and initiatives. This role combines strategic planning, relationship-building, and communication to help organizations reach their funding goals. With national employment at 46,000 and a projected growth rate of 4.2%, the field offers a defined but growing professional space. The national median salary of $123,480 indicates strong earning potential for experienced professionals. Annual openings of 4,000 suggest a steady flow of opportunities for both new entrants and those advancing from related roles. Successful fundraising managers typically draw on skills in speaking and listening, leadership, project management, and interpersonal communication, supported by strong writing and analytical thinking. For people who enjoy organizing complex efforts, working with others, and thinking creatively about funding strategies, this career can offer a rewarding blend of strategic and people-focused work, with opportunities in multiple states and metro areas across the country.
Fundraising managers earn a national median annual salary of $123,480, with substantial variation by state and metro area. Among the top states by opportunity score, New York shows a median salary of $169,510, while Massachusetts is at $151,740 and California at $135,870. Colorado and Washington also offer six-figure median pay, at $130,010 and $137,010 respectively. At the metro level, salaries can be even higher. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro reports a median of $170,780, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a median of $164,330. Other high-paying metros include Boston-Cambridge-Newton at $161,500 and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont at $157,750. These figures indicate that location is a major factor in earning potential. Professionals willing to consider top metros and states by opportunity score may access some of the strongest salary levels in this field.
Fundraising managers have a national employment level of 46,000, with projected employment growth of 4.2%. This growth rate, paired with an estimated 4,000 annual openings, indicates an ongoing need for experienced professionals as well as new entrants. The combination of existing employment and projected growth suggests that opportunities are likely to arise from both new positions and turnover in current roles. Because the same 4.2% projected growth rate appears across the top states and metros by opportunity score, the outlook is consistently positive in many of the strongest locations for this occupation. For career planners, this means the field offers a measurable level of stability along with room for expansion. Individuals already working in related occupations such as fundraisers, advertising and promotions managers, or marketing managers may find pathways to transition into fundraising management roles as opportunities arise.
Location plays a clear role in opportunities for fundraising managers. Among states, California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington rank highest by opportunity score. New York and Massachusetts combine relatively high median salaries ($169,510 and $151,740) with solid employment levels of 4,080 and 2,260. California stands out for employment volume at 5,430, with a median salary of $135,870. Colorado and Washington have smaller employment bases—600 and 1,050—but still offer six-figure median salaries and competitive opportunity scores. At the metro level, the New York-Newark-Jersey City and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara areas show the highest opportunity scores, both above 77, with median salaries of $170,780 and $164,330. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton also provide strong combinations of salary, employment, and opportunity scores, giving candidates multiple geographic options to consider.
Fundraising managers typically need a bachelor’s degree, providing a general educational foundation for this leadership-oriented role. Beyond formal education, the skill profile for this career is broad and multifaceted. Key strengths include speaking and listening, writing and reading, and interpersonal abilities, all of which support effective communication with a variety of stakeholders. Leadership and project management skills are important for planning, coordinating, and guiding fundraising efforts. Creativity and innovation contribute to developing new approaches, while critical and analytical thinking assist with evaluating results and making informed decisions. Skills in customer service support relationship management, and comfort with mathematics helps in working with budgets or numerical targets. Competence with computers and information technology is also important in modern fundraising environments. Together, these skills complement the typical bachelor’s-level education, helping professionals succeed in both strategic and day-to-day aspects of fundraising management.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
