Jobs Similar to Fundraisers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to fundraisers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Public Relations Managers, Fundraising Managers and Advertising Sales Agents.
Fundraisers: $72,550 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Fundraisers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Public Relations Managers | 86% | $146,910+102% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Fundraising Managers | 85% | $125,470+73% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Advertising Sales Agents | 84% | $64,820−11% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Sales Managers | 84% | $148,270+104% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and AthletesSame group | 84% | $82,890+14% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Public Relations Specialists | 83% | $74,750+3% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Advertising and Promotions Managers | 82% | $133,660+84% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | 82% | $78,660+8% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | 82% | $69,990−4% | High school |
| 10 | Marketing Managers | 82% | $166,790+130% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Personal Financial Advisors | 81% | $105,070+45% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersSame group | 81% | $61,160−16% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Financial Managers | 81% | $166,570+130% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Education Administrators, Postsecondary | 80% | $104,590+44% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Credit Counselors | 80% | $52,230−28% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Real Estate Sales Agents | 80% | $52,830−27% | High school |
| 17 | First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | 80% | $87,520+21% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Talent Directors | 80% | $90,360Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Compensation and Benefits Managers | 79% | $149,230+106% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Chief Executives | 79% | $213,990+195% | Graduate degree |
- 1Public Relations Managers
86% similar · $146,910 (+102%) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Fundraising Managers
85% similar · $125,470 (+73%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Advertising Sales Agents
84% similar · $64,820 (−11%) · Training or associate
- 4Sales Managers
84% similar · $148,270 (+104%) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
84% similar · $82,890 (+14%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Public Relations Specialists
83% similar · $74,750 (+3%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Advertising and Promotions Managers
82% similar · $133,660 (+84%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
82% similar · $78,660 (+8%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
82% similar · $69,990 (−4%) · High school
- 10Marketing Managers
82% similar · $166,790 (+130%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Personal Financial Advisors
81% similar · $105,070 (+45%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
81% similar · $61,160 (−16%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Financial Managers
81% similar · $166,570 (+130%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Education Administrators, Postsecondary
80% similar · $104,590 (+44%) · Graduate degree
- 15Credit Counselors
80% similar · $52,230 (−28%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Real Estate Sales Agents
80% similar · $52,830 (−27%) · High school
- 17First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
80% similar · $87,520 (+21%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Talent Directors
80% similar · $90,360 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Compensation and Benefits Managers
79% similar · $149,230 (+106%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Chief Executives
79% similar · $213,990 (+195%) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than fundraisers.
- Marketing Managers82% similar · $166,790 (+130%)
- Financial Managers81% similar · $166,570 (+130%)
- Compensation and Benefits Managers79% similar · $149,230 (+106%)
- Sales Managers84% similar · $148,270 (+104%)
- Public Relations Managers86% similar · $146,910 (+102%)
- Advertising and Promotions Managers82% similar · $133,660 (+84%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for fundraisers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where fundraisers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Public Relations Specialists (90)
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents (82)
- Credit Counselors (80)
- Talent Directors (80)
- Advertising Sales Agents (79)
- Insurance Sales Agents (78)
- Loan Officers (78)
- Media Programming Directors (78)
- Social and Community Service Managers (78)
- Lodging Managers (77)
Questions about jobs like fundraisers
What jobs are most similar to fundraisers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Public Relations Managers (86% similar), Fundraising Managers (85% similar), Advertising Sales Agents (84% similar), Sales Managers (84% similar) and Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes (84% similar).
Which jobs like fundraisers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Chief Executives ($213,990, +195%; usually a graduate degree), Marketing Managers ($166,790, +130%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Financial Managers ($166,570, +130%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with fundraisers ($72,550). Without more preparation than fundraisers usually need: Marketing Managers, Financial Managers and Compensation and Benefits Managers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.