Breaking Down NAR’s 2023 Executive Salaries and Marketing Spend

The 2023 tax filing for the National Association of REALTORS® is public, revealing how the organization allocated funds during one of its most pivotal years.

While NAR faced mounting legal battles, leadership turnover, and pressure to cut costs, compensation for top executives increased compared to the previous year. So did spending on marketing. 

Here’s a breakdown. 

NAR Executive Salaries in 2023

According to NAR’s 990 tax filing for 2023, here’s what the trade association paid its top executives that year. For those who received it, an additional $56,976 in non-salary compensation was also reported.

• Bob Goldberg (CEO through 11/17/2023): $3,002,748 (plus $56,976 in non-salary compensation)
• Katie Johnson (General Counsel and Chief Member Experience Officer): $1,110,113 (plus $56,976)
• Shannon McGahn (SVP, Government Affairs): $1,070,027 (plus $56,976)
• Mark Birschbach (SVP, Strategic Business Innovation and Tech): $1,067,775 (plus $56,976)
• Lawrence Yun (Chief Economist): $817,931 (plus $56,976)
• John Pierpoint (Chief Financial Officer): $794,320 (plus $56,976)
• Marc Gould (SVP, Member Development): $706,679 (plus $56,976)
• Donna Gland (SVP, Talent Development Resources): $657,355 (plus $56,976)
• Victoria Gillespie (Chief Marketing Officer, through 12/01/2023): $524,066 (plus $56,976)
• Nykia Wright (Interim CEO beginning 11/20/2023): $427,613 (plus $56,976)
• Tracy Kasper (NAR President, beginning 8/30/2023): $281,494
• Kevin Sears (First Vice President): $226,025
• Kenny Parcell (NAR President through 8/28/2023): $220,859

This does not include the lavish perks NAR executives receive, which were first published by the New York Times in November 2024. 

And of course, much has happened since 2023 wrapped up, including: 

• Tracy Kasper stepping down as NAR President, succeeded by Kevin Sears (January 8, 2024)
• NAR’s $418M settlement of Sitzer/Burnett (March 15, 2024)
• Nykia Wright becoming permanent CEO on August 19, 2024 (formerly Interim CEO after Goldberg’s resignation) 

Because she took on the role of Interim CEO on November 20th, the 2023 filing shows Nykia Wright’s salary for the final 41 days of the year. Based on her 41-day pay in 2023, her annual salary could approach (or exceed) $3.8 million, though we won’t know for sure until the next filing.

To compare NAR’s executive salaries from 2023 to 2011-2022, click here.

NAR’s Independent Contractors Spend for 2023

Marketing Spend

NAR’s marketing spend has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years, and in 2023, it continued its upward climb. The organization reported nearly $60 million in marketing and video-related expenses:

• Havas Media Group (Marketing & Communications): $53,838,706
• Projection Presentation Technology (Video Production & Services): $5,900,451

Other Independent Contractors

For comparison, NAR’s combined spending on legal counsel and public relations in 2023 was less than one-third of what it paid Havas Media Group alone.

• Cooley LLP (Legal Counsel): $12,467,705
• APCO Worldwide LLC (Public Relations): $5,765,008
• CSI DMC INC (Event Management Services): $3,082,653

Granted, we won’t know how much NAR spent on marketing in 2024 until that filing is available, but the organization has noted that it is making cuts to spending. 

Looking Ahead

NAR is projecting membership to drop to 1.2 million in 2026, down from 1.4 million in 2025. And that’s before factoring in brokers who are now telling agents they no longer need to be Realtors®. 

With that decline comes an expected $32 million drop in dues revenue. So far, only $20 million has been trimmed from the budget, according to comments from CEO Nykia Wrigtht and President Kevin Sears at NAR’s midyear event. 

Whether future cuts will come from executive salaries, marketing, or member services remains to be seen. But in a year when trust and transparency have become central to the organization’s future, the numbers speak volumes.