How much does a chief executive make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $102.88 an hour or $17,830 a month.
- Hourly
- $102.88
- Average (mean)
- $269,600
- Jobs
- 204,350
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $75,700 | $36.39 | |
| 25th | $129,500 | $62.28 | |
| Median | $214,000 | $102.88 | |
| 75th | $356,200 | $171.25 | |
| 90th | $507,700 | $244.10 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Oregon | $341,600 |
| Washington | $339,800 |
| Illinois | $331,900 |
| North Carolina | $314,300 |
| Virginia | $310,700 |
| New Jersey | $310,400 |
| Connecticut | $295,100 |
| Hawaii | $281,600 |
| South Dakota | $280,900 |
| New York | $258,000 |
| Texas | $257,900 |
| Michigan | $255,600 |
| Indiana | $254,200 |
| Maryland | $248,700 |
| Rhode Island | $235,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $232,600 |
| California | $218,600 |
| Nebraska | $214,700 |
| Colorado | $213,400 |
| Iowa | $211,200 |
| Wisconsin | $208,400 |
| Georgia | $208,200 |
| Delaware | $200,000 |
| Tennessee | $198,800 |
| Minnesota | $195,700 |
| Montana | $182,300 |
| Kentucky | $179,500 |
| Idaho | $177,200 |
| Ohio | $176,400 |
| Vermont | $175,100 |
| Missouri | $172,300 |
| Utah | $171,900 |
| South Carolina | $168,800 |
| New Hampshire | $168,600 |
| Alaska | $166,700 |
| Alabama | $166,400 |
| North Dakota | $164,600 |
| Oklahoma | $163,800 |
| Kansas | $158,100 |
| West Virginia | $152,000 |
| Nevada | $149,800 |
| Wyoming | $147,900 |
| Mississippi | $139,300 |
| Maine | $138,800 |
| New Mexico | $123,500 |
| Arkansas | $120,000 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Medford, OR | $615,500 |
| Midland, MI | $588,000 |
| Midland, TX | $389,300 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $388,100 |
| Durham, NC | $381,300 |
| Portland, OR | $375,800 |
| Seattle, WA | $370,000 |
| Greensboro, NC | $354,300 |
| Chicago, IL | $345,000 |
| Evansville, IN | $339,300 |
| Springfield, IL | $338,600 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $335,900 |
| Charlotte, NC | $329,000 |
| Richmond, VA | $326,200 |
| Rockford, IL | $323,000 |
In other countries
Chief Executive belongs to the international group "Senior government officials".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- General and Operations Manager$105,800
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chief executive make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $102.88 ($214,000 a year).
How much does a chief executive make a month?
About $17,830 a month before tax, based on a median of $214,000 a year.
How much does a chief executive make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $75,700 or less a year ($36.39 an hour); the top 10% make $507,700 or more.
Which state pays chief executives the most?
Oregon, with a median of $341,600 a year, followed by Washington ($339,800) and Illinois ($331,900).
Which city pays chief executives the most?
Medford, OR, with a median of $615,500 a year.
How many chief executives are there in the United States?
About 204,350 people work as chief executives.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.