This report is based on a robust sample of 1,117 anonymous survey responses collected during September/October of 2018. In general, local arts agency employees are educated white women. Eighty-two percent of the respondents identify their race/ethnicity as white or Caucasian or European American only. Seventy-eight percent identify as female (cisgender). Ninety-one percent have at least a four-year college degree, including 45 percent who have at least one graduate degree. Sixty-five percent of LAA employees report that they are satisfied with their cash compensation. While 38 percent of LAA employees agree with the statement, "I have a clear path for job advancement," another 30 percent disagree (including 14 percent who strongly disagree).
The overall average salary for the executive director position is $81,476 (the average for public/government LAAs is $110,946, while the average for private/nonprofit LAAs is $73,114). Detailed statistical findings for each individual job position can be downloaded using the links below.
Salary Report Links
- Introduction by Ruby Lopez Harper (PDF)
- Executive Summary (PDF)
- About Local Arts Agencies and Survey Methodology (PDF)
- Demographic Characteristics of All Respondents (PDF)
- Employment Benefits and Job Satisfaction of All Respondents (PDF)
- 2018 Full Statistical Report and Salary Tables (PDF)
- 2013 Report for comparson purposes (PDF)
- 2001 Report for comparson purposes (PDF)
Detailed Salary Tables and Demographics by Job Title
- Executive Director/President/Chief Executive Officer (PDF)
- Assistant Director/Deputy Directory/Chief Operating Officer (PDF)
- Artistic/Choreography/Curator/Design (PDF)
- Arts Education (PDF)
- Communications/Public Relations (PDF)
- Community Engagement/Audience Development (PDF)
- Development/Fundraising/United Arts Fund Campaign (PDF)
- Event Planning/Meetings and Special Events (PDF)
- Facilities/Facility Management (PDF)
- Finance/Accounting (PDF)
- Gallery/Museum/Collections/Visual Art (PDF)
- Government Affairs/Advocacy (PDF)
- Grants/Grantmaking/Community Investment (PDF)
- Marketing/Sales (PDF)
- Membership (PDF)
- Operations/Administration/Human Resources (PDF)
- Programs/Services/Cultural Activities (PDF)
- Public Art (PDF)
- Research/Evaluation/Policy (PDF)
- Technology/Information Systems (PDF)