The survey findings indicate a more active remuneration environment compared to previous years, alongside continued emphasis on flexibility as a core workforce expectation.

The Associations Salary Survey report, published annually by Associations Forum, is a benchmarking report on remuneration across not-for-profit organisations, with a particular focus on membership-based associations. It supports board members, senior executives, and managers in developing informed remuneration strategies aligned with organisational goals. It also provides a practical tool for employers and employees during salary review discussions by offering clear and comparable market data.

The latest edition draws on data from 288 associations and 10-years of remuneration trends. It provides salary benchmarks across 14 key association roles, including Chief Executive Officer, Finance Manager, Human Resources Manager, and Operations roles

Key findings

• Average remuneration packages increased by 5.1% over the past year, up from 1.8% in the previous survey.
• Remuneration rose across all 14 of the positions surveyed, with no positions recording a decrease.
• Workplace flexibility remains the leading attraction and retention factor, with 93.4% of respondents identifying flexible hours and location as a key driver
• Remuneration variation is flattening across small to medium-sized organisations, despite stronger increases in certain categories

"The latest survey points to a sector that is adjusting more actively on pay than we have seen in recent years,” said Fatima Sunderji, Associations Forum Group General Manager, “At the same time, associations are still placing strong emphasis on flexible working arrangements as a key part of their employee value proposition.”

The Associations Salary Survey 2026 Report can be purchased for $300 (Members) or $600 (Non-member NFP organisations). 

Contact our team to purchase the report for other key insights.

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About Associations Forum 

Associations Forum is one of Australia’s largest network of associations with over 500 members. Its mission of “bringing associations together to boost performance” is achieved through delivering information, training and advice. 

Media Contact

For enquiries regarding this release, contact:  
Duyen Cao, Marketing & Communications Officer,
duyen@associations.net.au
T: +61 2 9904 8200.