Fundraising Managers Salary
Fundraising Managers in California make a median of $135,870 a year, or about $65.32 an hour. The range runs from $85K at the entry level to $258K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $128,010 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 30.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $136K get you in California?
About fundraising managers
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What this looks like in California
Fundraising managers pay in California tracks closely to the national median, $136K locally vs. $125K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $2,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level fundraising managers (10th percentile) start around $85K. Mid-career wages sit at $136K. Top earners bring in $258K or more, a $173K spread from bottom to top.
Fundraising Managers salary by metro in California
16 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $179K | +32% | 30 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $164K | +21% | 460 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $158K | +16% | 1,030 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $154K | +13% | 80 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $152K | +12% | 50 |
| Salinas | $139K | +2% | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $139K | +2% | 60 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $138K | +2% | 250 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $135K | -1% | 470 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $133K | -2% | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $132K | -3% | 240 |
| Redding | $131K | -3% | 30 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $130K | -4% | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $126K | -8% | 2,080 |
| Fresno | $124K | -8% | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $114K | -16% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 16 metros
Compare to other states
Track fundraising managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a fundraising manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $136K, rent takes 31.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for fundraising managers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fundraising managers typically earn — is $85K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,084/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is fundraising manager a high-paying job in California?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $136K locally vs. $125K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does California compare to the national average for fundraising managers?
California pays $136K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $128K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do fundraising managers make in California?
The median is $135,870 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $84,730, and experienced fundraising managers can clear $257,500. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $136K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,904/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 31.3% 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 fundraising managers salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median fundraising managers salary is worth about $128,010 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do fundraising managers 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.