How much does a CEO make in the United States?
This is the median gross salary: half earn more and half earn less. That is $9,895 a month.
- Approx. take-home per month
- $7,674
- Compared with the median pay in the United States
- 2.2 times
- Data from
- 2025
Where the United States ranks among 144 countries
Each line is a country, on a log scale from $100 to $200,000 a year.
In other countries
Median gross salary a year, in dollars.
| 1. Luxembourg estimate | $180,600 |
| 2. Switzerland estimate | $171,300 |
| 3. Italy estimate | $144,200 |
| 11. Belgium estimate | $122,200 |
| 12. United States | $118,700 |
| 13. South Korea estimate | $112,100 |
| 144. Nigeria estimate | $717 |
Similar jobs
Managers
- Legislators$42,830
- Senior government officials$118,100
- Traditional chiefs and heads of village$214,000
- Trades union official$111,200
By state
Median gross salary a year.
| New Jersey | $179,700 |
| District of Columbia | $168,000 |
| South Dakota | $152,700 |
| Washington | $145,900 |
| Connecticut | $143,700 |
| Delaware | $141,800 |
| New York | $135,800 |
| California | $134,100 |
| Colorado | $131,900 |
| Virginia | $130,600 |
See all 51 states
| Massachusetts | $127,200 |
| New Hampshire | $124,700 |
| Rhode Island | $123,000 |
| Maryland | $122,100 |
| Alaska | $121,400 |
| Wisconsin | $118,800 |
| Hawaii | $114,100 |
| Indiana | $113,600 |
| Tennessee | $113,300 |
| Alabama | $113,200 |
| Illinois | $109,600 |
| Pennsylvania | $109,500 |
| Oregon | $109,300 |
| South Carolina | $109,300 |
| North Carolina | $108,200 |
| Michigan | $108,000 |
| Mississippi | $107,600 |
| Minnesota | $107,500 |
| Georgia | $107,400 |
| Texas | $106,300 |
| Utah | $102,900 |
| Maine | $102,700 |
| Vermont | $101,900 |
| Louisiana | $101,800 |
| Florida | $101,600 |
| Nevada | $101,100 |
| North Dakota | $100,400 |
| Wyoming | $100,100 |
| Ohio | $99,930 |
| Iowa | $98,830 |
| New Mexico | $98,780 |
| Kansas | $97,650 |
| Nebraska | $97,350 |
| Montana | $96,250 |
| Arizona | $94,800 |
| Oklahoma | $94,220 |
| Idaho | $90,560 |
| West Virginia | $89,450 |
| Kentucky | $83,200 |
| Missouri | $81,430 |
| Arkansas | $78,330 |
Jobs in this group in the United States
Official name of each one and its median salary a year.
| General and Operations Manager | $105,800 |
| Chief Executive | $214,000 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a CEO make a month in the United States?
The median gross salary is $9,895 a month, $118,700 a year.
How much does a CEO make starting out and with experience?
The lowest-paid 10%, usually people starting out, make around $53,160 a year; the top 10%, with experience or senior roles, make more than $283,900.
Which country pays a CEO the most?
United Kingdom, with a median of $133,800 a year before tax, according to our data.
Which state pays a CEO the most?
New Jersey, with a median of $179,700 a year.
Does a CEO make more in the United States or in United Kingdom?
In United Kingdom: $133,800 a year against $118,700 in the United States, 1.1 times more.
Who makes more, a CEO or a trades union official?
A CEO: $118,700 a year against $111,200 for a trades union official, 1.1 times more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS survey, 2025. How we calculate