Chief Operating Officer salaries at nonprofits
Nonprofit COOs earn an average of $200,117 per year, including benefits, with the top 5% of COOs working at nonprofits earning more than $497,613
Nonprofit chief operating officers (and directors of operations) carry out the day-to-day operational management of nonprofits, including overseeing staff, programs, finances, and facilities. They are typically members of the executive leadership team, working closely with the chief executive officer (or executive director) to ensure that the organization is running efficiently and effectively. They are also among the highest-paid nonprofit executives, along with the CEOs.
How is the COO different than the CEO? The CEO is responsible for setting the strategic direction and making top-level decisions, while the COO oversees the day-to-day operations and implements the CEO's vision. In a 501(c)(3) charity setting, the CEO and executive directors have additional fundraising responsibilities, which COOs do not have. While the vast majority of nonprofits do not have COOs (or directors of operations) on staff, this analysis found 12,010 that do, typically larger organizations.
Trends in compensation for chief operating officers at nonprofits
Nonprofit COOs earn an average of $199,696 per year in total compensation, including benefits. Half of the COOs at tax-exempt organizations make more than $148,847 per year. The top 5% of nonprofit COOs earn more than $498,773, and the bottom 5% of nonprofit COOs (including Directors of Operations) earn less than $41,816 per year. The highest paid nonprofit COOs earn more than $1M per year, with some well over that amount.
The highest-paid nonprofit COOs (making more than $500,000 per year) tend to work for hospitals, universities, and trade associations. Conversely, the lowest-paid nonprofit COOs (making less than $50,000 per year) tend to work for churches, animal shelters, and humanitarian organizations. What's the difference between these types of organizations? The higher-paid COOs tend to work for larger organizations with more employees and complicated operations. These nonprofits also tend to earn significant revenues from providing program services (e.g., tuition fees, membership dues) versus being reliant on donations and grants. While trade associations may seem like an outlier for highly-paid COOs, they are actually complex entities. Associations must manage the activities of many different organizations within a particular industry, including lobbying, developing industry standards, providing legal assistance, creating educational programs, and dealing with complex federal and state regulatory issues.
The following charts show a breakdown of COO total compensation ranges at nonprofits, and which types of nonprofits pay their COOs more than $500,000 per year.
Nonprofit COO compensation ranges
| COO salary | Number of nonprofit COOs | |
|---|---|---|
| < $100,000 |
2,734
| |
| $100,000 to $250,000 |
6,843
| |
| $250,000 to $500,000 |
1,834
| |
| $500,000 to $1,000,000 |
472
| |
| > $1,000,000 |
127
| |
Types of nonprofits with COOs making > $500,000 per year
| Nonprofit type | Number of nonprofits w/COOs paid >$500k per year | |
|---|---|---|
| Trade / professional associations |
110
| |
| Universities |
87
| |
| Organizations supporting a health care nonprofit |
80
| |
| School foundations |
78
| |
| Community clinics |
76
| |
| Multiservice human service organizations |
69
| |
| Cancer organizations |
68
| |
| Public health programs |
59
| |
| General hospitals |
53
| |
| Urban development organizations |
53
| |
The top 50 highest paid nonprofit COOs
- Sanjeev Daga, Harvard Management CompanyTitleChief Operating OfficerCompensation$9,854,522% Org revenue8.9%% Org comp16.0%Revenue$110,703,172Data date2020-06LocationWebsite
- Robert A Ettl, Harvard Management CompanyTitleMD - Operations / MD - Chief Operating Officer and TreasurerCompensation$4,840,210% Org revenue4.4%% Org comp7.9%Revenue$110,703,172Data date2020-06LocationWebsite
- Price Ronald E, PGA TourTitleChief Operating OfficerCompensation$4,288,481% Org revenue0.4%% Org comp2.7%Revenue$1,161,283,176Data date2018-12LocationWebsite
- Rebecca Kuhn, Banner HealthTitleChief Operating OfficerCompensation$3,828,820% Org revenue0.1%% Org comp0.1%Revenue$7,472,338,143Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
- Kathryn Martin, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterTitleChief Operating OfficerCompensation$3,750,514% Org revenue0.1%% Org comp0.1%Revenue$5,383,849,774Data date2020-12LocationWebsite
- Karen L. Hanlon, Highmark HealthTitleExecutive Vice President , Chief Operating Officer / Treasurer and Chief Operating Off.Compensation$3,321,240% Org revenue1.0%% Org comp1.3%Revenue$331,096,827Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
- Brian Smith, Bon Secours Mercy HealthTitlePresident , Core Operations / Chief Operating Officer of the Year.Compensation$3,318,912% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.1%
- Dileso Nicholas, Mount Auburn HospitalTitleChief Operating OfficerCompensation$3,054,759% Org revenue0.9%% Org comp1.8%Revenue$335,853,854Data date2019-09LocationWebsite
- Mark Solazzo, Northwell HealthcareTitleExecutive Vice President and Chief Operating OfficerCompensation$2,950,145% Org revenue0.2%% Org comp0.4%Revenue$1,786,239,226Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
- Leslie C Davis Upm, Upmc GroupTitleSenior Vice President , Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer HSD / Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer HSDCompensation$2,871,300% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.0%Revenue$16,575,357,648Data date2020-06LocationWebsite
- Michael W Gough, Norton HealthcareTitleExec Vice President and Chief Operating OfficerCompensation$2,699,644% Org revenue0.5%% Org comp1.3%Revenue$492,316,959Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
- Kathryn Martin, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer CenterTitleChief Operating Officer , Memorial Sloan KetteringCompensation$2,643,446% Org revenue0.3%% Org comp0.5%
- James Conforti, Sutter HealthTitleChief Operating OfficerCompensation$2,546,402% Org revenue0.1%% Org comp0.2%Revenue$1,902,925,267Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
- Robert Allen, Ihc Health ServicesTitleSenior Vice President and Chief Operating OfficerCompensation$2,360,259% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.1%Revenue$7,115,807,807Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
- Quinn McKenna, Stanford Health CareTitleChief Operating OfficerCompensation$2,225,812% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.1%Revenue$5,001,486,717Data date2020-08LocationWebsite
- Robert G. Riney, Henry Ford Health SystemTitleChief Operating Officer and President - HealthcareCompensation$2,135,729% Org revenue0.1%% Org comp0.1%Revenue$3,565,318,688Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
- Jamal A Hakim, Orlando HealthTitleChief Operating OfficerCompensation$2,113,774% Org revenue0.1%% Org comp0.2%Revenue$2,965,518,310Data date2019-09LocationWebsite
- Tammie M Brailsford, MemorialCare Health SystemTitleExecutive Vice President and Chief Operating OfficerCompensation$2,063,657% Org revenue0.7%% Org comp1.6%Revenue$283,777,110Data date2020-06LocationWebsite
- Cheryl A Moore, New York Genome CenterTitlePresident and Chief Operating OfficerCompensation$2,058,410% Org revenue3.4%% Org comp7.2%Revenue$60,783,989Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
- Carolyn Wilson, Beaumont Hospital Royal OakTitleExecutive Vice President and Chief Operating OfficerCompensation$2,035,525% Org revenue0.1%% Org comp0.1%Revenue$2,803,747,807Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
- Vamsi Chadalavada, ISO New EnglandTitleExecutive Vice President and Chief Operating OfficerCompensation$2,027,921% Org revenue1.0%% Org comp1.7%Revenue$195,643,356Data date2020-12LocationWebsite
- Karen Strauss, ProMedicaTitleChief Operating OfficerCompensation$1,995,618% Org revenue0.7%% Org comp1.0%Revenue$274,534,140Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
- Albert Boulenger, Baptist Health South FloridaincTitleChief Operating OfficerCompensation$1,969,188% Org revenue0.1%% Org comp0.6%Revenue$1,443,599,543Data date2020-09LocationWebsite
- Wilhelmina M. Manzano, NewYork Presbyterian HospitalTitleGroup Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive and Chief Operating Officer for Perioperative Services , Newyork - PresbyCompensation$1,950,703% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.1%
- Mark S. Stauder, Hackensack Meridian Health Inc-SubordinatesTitleChairperson and Chief Operating OfficerCompensation$1,934,849% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.1%Revenue$5,882,477,841Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
- Peacock William, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Group ReturnTitleDirector - CC Fla Reg HS , Chief Operating Officer - CCFCompensation$1,875,624% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.0%Revenue$12,265,220,306Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
- Peacock William, Cleveland ClinicTitleChief of OperationsCompensation$1,875,624% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.1%Revenue$6,830,413,008Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
- Edward H. Sim, Catholic Health InitiativesTitleExecutive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer - St Anthony HospitalCompensation$1,862,478% Org revenue0.1%% Org comp0.3%
- Sim Edward, Centura HealthTitleChief Operating OfficerCompensation$1,860,329% Org revenue0.4%% Org comp0.7%Revenue$478,768,711Data date2020-06LocationWebsite
- Gostout Bobbie S, Mayo Clinic Group ReturnTitleDirector and Vice Chair and Vice President OperationsCompensation$1,856,964% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.0%Revenue$10,820,544,610Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
- David L Reich, Mount Sinai HospitalTitlePresident and Chief Operating OfficerCompensation$1,852,859% Org revenue0.1%% Org comp0.1%Revenue$3,291,872,800Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
- Michael F Hulefeld, Ochsner Medical CenterTitleExecutive Vice President and Chief Operating OfficerCompensation$1,828,288% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.1%Revenue$4,213,475,352Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
- Jessie T Shepherd, Gwinnett Hospital SystemTitleExecutive Vice President and Chief Operating OfficerCompensation$1,823,315% Org revenue0.2%% Org comp0.5%Revenue$751,912,005Data date2019-08LocationWebsite
- James Benedict, Highmark Health GroupTitleDirector and Chief Operating OfficerCompensation$1,816,649% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.1%Revenue$4,005,225,290Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
- Benjamin R. Carter, Trinity Health CorporationTitleExecutive Vice President , Chief Operating Officer / Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer THR 12 and 19;evp , Chief Operating Officer at 1 and 20Compensation$1,806,239% Org revenue0.1%% Org comp0.2%Revenue$2,006,192,061Data date2020-06LocationWebsite
- Phillip Okala, University of PennsylvaniaTitleChief Operating Officer Philadelphia OperationsCompensation$1,782,227% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.0%Revenue$7,624,539,000Data date2020-06LocationWebsite
- Lisa Shannon, Allina HealthTitleExecutive Vice President, Chief Operating OfficerCompensation$1,769,472% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.1%Revenue$4,631,840,052Data date2020-12LocationWebsite
- Michael Gentry, Sentara HealthcareTitleChief Operating OfficerCompensation$1,743,519% Org revenue0.4%% Org comp1.5%Revenue$471,601,927Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
- David Barclay, The University of ChicagoTitleChief Operating Officer CRSPCompensation$1,714,773% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.1%Revenue$3,705,144,407Data date2020-06LocationWebsite
- Pamela Stoyanoff, Methodist Health SystemTitlePresident and Chief Operating OfficerCompensation$1,711,704% Org revenue0.1%% Org comp0.2%Revenue$1,425,920,050Data date2020-09LocationWebsite
- Erin S Asprec, Memorial Hermann Health SystemTitleExecutive Vice President and Chief Operating OfficerCompensation$1,708,435% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.1%
- Donald M. Remy, National Collegiate Athletic AssociationTitleChief Operating Officer and Chief Legal OfficerCompensation$1,697,971% Org revenue0.3%% Org comp2.1%Revenue$521,036,223Data date2020-08LocationWebsite
- John M. Porter, Jr., WellSpan HealthTitleExecutive Vice President and Chief Operating OfficerCompensation$1,681,904% Org revenue0.3%% Org comp0.7%Revenue$507,378,748Data date2020-06LocationWebsite
- Jeffrey Drop, CHI Lakewood HealthTitleBoard Member and Senior Vice President - Operations - Chief Executive OfficerCompensation$1,660,666% Org revenue11.4%% Org comp20.2%NTEERevenue$14,544,176Data date2020-06LocationWebsite
- Dane Peterson, Emory UniversityTitlePresident and Chief Operating Officer - EhcCompensation$1,643,982% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.1%Revenue$4,755,859,486Data date2020-08LocationWebsite
- Audrey Murphy, Hackensack Meridian Health Inc-SubordinatesTitleExecutive Vice President , Chief Legal Officer , OperationsCompensation$1,613,112% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.1%Revenue$5,882,477,841Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
- Patrick Falvey, Baptist HealthTitleChief Operating OfficerCompensation$1,606,665% Org revenue0.1%% Org comp0.2%Revenue$2,507,006,969Data date2020-08LocationWebsite
- Kristina M. Alimard, University of Virginia Investment Management CompanyTitleCfa Chief Operating OfficerCompensation$1,602,872% Org revenue0.4%% Org comp11.4%Revenue$457,345,731Data date2020-06LocationWebsite
- Michelle Janney, Indiana University HealthTitleExecutive Vice President and Chief Operating OfficerCompensation$1,600,338% Org revenue0.0%% Org comp0.1%Revenue$4,855,200,985Data date2020-12LocationWebsite
- John Rodgers, Independent Health AssociationTitleExecutive Vice President , Chief Operating OfficerCompensation$1,560,011% Org revenue0.1%% Org comp1.6%Revenue$1,443,585,916Data date2019-12LocationWebsite
