Median Salary
$213,990
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$102.88
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$507,730
entry level starts ~$75,700
Pay Grade
A+
elite pay · 204,000 employed
How much does a Chief Executive make?
Chief Executives in the United States bring home a median salary of $213,990 a year, or around $102.88 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $75,700, while the top 10% earn $507,730.
That is $152,600 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Chief Executive salary range by percentile
Half of all Chief Executives earn between $129,540 and $356,200 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,700 | $36.39 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $129,540 | $62.28 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $213,990 | $102.88 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $356,200 | $171.25 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $507,730 | $244.10 |
|
Highest-paying states for Chief Executive
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Oregon leads the country for Chief Executive pay at $341,630 a year, followed by Washington ($339,810) and Illinois ($331,920). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $119,990 — a gap of $221,640 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Chief Executive salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 46 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
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 $232,560California $218,600Nebraska $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
Workforce and education
About 204,000 people work as Chief Executives in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $269,630 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a master's degree (usually 5 to 6 years of college) is typically required, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Chief Executive make in the United States?
The median Chief Executive salary in the United States is $213,990 per year, or about $102.88 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $75,700, while the top 10% of earners make $507,730 or more.
How does Chief Executive pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A+ (elite pay), the Chief Executive median of $213,990 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Chief Executives the most?
Oregon is the highest-paying state for Chief Executives, with a median salary of $341,630 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Chief Executive?
Becoming a Chief Executive typically requires around 6 years of college. A master's degree (usually 5 to 6 years of college) is typically required.
How many Chief Executives work in the United States?
About 204,000 people were employed as Chief Executives in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
Related salaries
Other management roles with similar pay.
$141,900
median pay · 622,000 employed
$171,270
median pay · 220,000 employed
$149,230
median pay · 23,000 employed
$167,220
median pay · 109,000 employed
$133,660
median pay · 21,000 employed
$149,280
median pay · 221,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.