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
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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.
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Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Fundraisers focus on generating financial support for organizations and causes. Nationally, this occupation employs about 134,000 people, indicating an established field with a defined professional path. The national median salary of $66,490 suggests that many roles offer solid earning potential while working in a mission-oriented environment. Employment is projected to grow by 4.3%, and there are about 10,000 annual openings, which points to ongoing demand from employers. Career paths can vary by location: some states and metro areas feature higher salaries and stronger CareerGPS opportunity scores, giving you options if you are open to relocation. The work draws on a blend of communication, project management, interpersonal, and analytical skills, supported by comfort with technology and data. For those who enjoy speaking, writing, organizing complex efforts, and building relationships, fundraising offers a professional role where these abilities are central to long-term career development.
Fundraisers earn a national median annual salary of $66,490, but pay can vary significantly by location. Several states offer higher median pay, including New York at $80,540, California at $79,710, Massachusetts at $79,060, and Washington at $79,000. Among metro areas, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA stands out with a median salary of $106,760, the highest listed, while New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ offers $82,180 and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA offers $82,930. Other major metros such as Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH show median salaries around $80,000. This range suggests that relocating to certain states or metro areas can significantly influence earning potential. As you advance and build skills in communication, project management, and leadership, you may be better positioned for roles in locations with higher median pay.
Fundraisers have a national employment base of about 134,000, indicating a sizeable occupation with room for both entry-level and experienced professionals. Employment is projected to grow by 4.3%, and there are about 10,000 annual openings. Together, these figures point to ongoing hiring driven by both new positions and turnover. The same 4.3% projected growth rate appears across leading states and metro areas in the data, suggesting broadly consistent growth expectations across regions. For job seekers, the combination of an established workforce, measurable projected growth, and a steady number of annual openings means there are recurring chances to enter or advance within the field. This environment can support career changers bringing transferable skills such as speaking and listening, project management, or customer service, as well as recent graduates preparing to start a career that relies on strong communication and analytical abilities.
Career prospects for fundraisers vary by state and metro area, with some locations standing out for both pay and CareerGPS opportunity scores. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York combine relatively high median salaries (around $79,000–$80,540) with the strongest opportunity scores, ranging from 65.78 to 67.38. New York and California also have sizable employment levels, at 11,600 and 12,860 respectively, which can translate into more varied job options. Colorado and Washington round out the top states, with median salaries of $74,440 and $79,000 and opportunity scores in the mid-50s. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA shows the highest opportunity score (77.42) and the highest median salary at $106,760, but with a smaller employment base of 1,060. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ also ranks highly, pairing an opportunity score of 77.27 with 9,520 jobs, offering both scale and pay.
Fundraisers typically need a bachelor’s degree, providing a broad academic foundation for this communication- and project-driven role. While specific majors are not defined here, the role clearly values a mix of soft and technical skills. Core abilities include speaking and listening, interpersonal skills, and customer service, all of which support relationship-building with donors and stakeholders. Project management and leadership skills are also important, reflecting the need to coordinate campaigns, timelines, and teams. Creativity and innovation, along with strong writing and reading skills, help with developing compelling messages and materials. Critical and analytical thinking and mathematics support data-informed decisions and performance tracking, while comfort with computers and information technology underpins modern fundraising tools and systems. Students and career changers can use this skill profile as a guide when selecting courses, training, or experiences that strengthen communication, organization, analysis, and technology use in preparation for fundraising roles.
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