Fundraisers Salary
Fundraisers in Virginia make a median of $72,610 a year, or about $34.91 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $122K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $76,601 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 34.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $73K get you in Virginia?
About fundraisers
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What this looks like in Virginia
Fundraisers pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $73K locally vs. $73K nationwide, a 0% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 35.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level fundraisers (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $122K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Fundraisers salary by metro in Virginia
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $79K | +8% | 270 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $78K | +8% | 120 |
| Harrisonburg | $75K | +3% | 90 |
| Richmond | $69K | -5% | 620 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $64K | -11% | 540 |
| Lynchburg | $63K | -14% | 90 |
| Roanoke | $61K | -17% | 110 |
| Winchester | $61K | -17% | 40 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $59K | -19% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track fundraisers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fundraiser afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 35.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for fundraisers in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fundraisers typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,809/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 59% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is fundraiser a high-paying job in Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $73K locally vs. $73K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for fundraisers?
Virginia pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do fundraisers make in Virginia?
The median is $72,610 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,810, and experienced fundraisers can clear $122,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,651/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 35.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a fundraisers salary go in Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median fundraisers salary is worth about $76,601 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do fundraisers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.