How much does a chief executive make in California?
$218,600a year
Median yearly pay for chief executives in California. That is $105.10 an hour or $18,220 a month.
- Hourly
- $105.10
- Vs. national median
- +2%
- Rank among states
- 17 of 46
- Jobs in the state
- 34,700
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $85,790Median: $218,600Highest 10%: $486,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $85,790 | $41.25 | |
| 25th | $133,600 | $64.24 | |
| Median | $218,600 | $105.10 | |
| 75th | $351,100 | $168.79 | |
| 90th | $486,800 | $234.05 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Francisco, CA | $288,700 |
| Napa, CA | $241,600 |
| San Diego, CA | $238,400 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $234,300 |
| Salinas, CA | $226,300 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $218,700 |
| Stockton, CA | $214,300 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $209,100 |
| Yuba City, CA | $209,100 |
| Oxnard, CA | $202,800 |
| Modesto, CA | $200,900 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $195,700 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $195,400 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $190,000 |
| Fresno, CA | $188,900 |
| Merced, CA | $181,700 |
| Vallejo, CA | $180,200 |
| El Centro, CA | $178,000 |
| Chico, CA | $176,800 |
| Riverside, CA | $176,700 |
| Redding, CA | $170,800 |
| Sacramento, CA | $169,800 |
| Hanford, CA | $161,000 |
| Visalia, CA | $155,500 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for chief executives.
| 14. Maryland | $248,700 |
| 15. Rhode Island | $235,400 |
| 16. Pennsylvania | $232,600 |
| 17. California | $218,600 |
| 18. Nebraska | $214,700 |
| 19. Colorado | $213,400 |
| 20. Iowa | $211,200 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chief executive make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $105.10 ($218,600 a year).
Do chief executives make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $218,600 against $214,000 nationally, 2% more.
Where does California rank for chief executive pay?
California ranks 17 of 46 states.
Which city in California pays chief executives the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, with a median of $288,700 a year.
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.