California Median
$218,600
per year
Hourly Rate
$105.10
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+2% vs US median
US median $213,990
State Rank
#17 of 46
34,700 employed here
How much does a Chief Executive make in California?
Chief Executives in California take home a median of $218,600 annually — roughly $105.10 an hour — which runs 2% above the national median of $213,990.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $85,790 while the top 10% make $486,830 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $133,610 and $351,090 a year.
Chief Executive salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,790 | $41.25 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $133,610 | $64.24 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $218,600 | $105.10 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $351,090 | $168.79 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $486,830 | $234.05 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 17th out of 46 states and territories for Chief Executive pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Chief Executive salary in other states
Oregon $341,630Washington $339,810Illinois $331,920North Carolina $314,290Virginia $310,740New Jersey $310,440Connecticut $295,120Hawaii $281,640South Dakota $280,900New York $257,980Texas $257,850Michigan $255,560Indiana $254,180Maryland $248,660Rhode Island $235,360Pennsylvania $232,560Nebraska $214,680Colorado $213,370Iowa $211,190Wisconsin $208,350Georgia $208,180Delaware $199,990Tennessee $198,830Minnesota $195,670Montana $182,340Kentucky $179,530Idaho $177,210Ohio $176,440Vermont $175,070Missouri $172,320Utah $171,880South Carolina $168,840New Hampshire $168,590Alaska $166,710Alabama $166,420North Dakota $164,560Oklahoma $163,790Kansas $158,100West Virginia $151,950Nevada $149,770Wyoming $147,940Mississippi $139,250Maine $138,770New Mexico $123,500Arkansas $119,990
Working as a Chief Executive in California
Nationally, about 204,000 people work as Chief Executives in the United States. A master's degree (usually 5 to 6 years of college) is typically required.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($218,600) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Chief Executive make in California?
The median Chief Executive salary in California is $218,600 per year, or about $105.10 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $85,790 at the entry level to $486,830 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Chief Executives about 2% more than the national median of $213,990. California ranks 17th out of 46 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Chief Executives?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $218,600 a year. About 34,700 Chief Executives are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Chief Executive salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.