Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
ShareLink copied
About this role
Chief Executive is a senior executive role that sets strategy and owns results across the function, focused on Executive in the Management job family.
Typical entry preparation: Master's Degree and 2 to 5 years of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
Direct or coordinate an organization's financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.
Confer with board members, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems.
Prepare budgets for approval, including those for funding or implementation of programs.
Direct, plan, or implement policies, objectives, or activities of organizations or businesses to ensure continuing operations, to maximize returns on investments, or to increase productivity.
Prepare or present reports concerning activities, expenses, budgets, government statutes or rulings, or other items affecting businesses or program services.
Top skills:Judgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingSystems EvaluationSpeakingManagement of Personnel Resources
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Chief Executive pay by experience level
Entry level$78,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$134,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$221,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$368,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$525,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+4.3%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
22,200
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Chief Executive salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
40,180 workers
$272,000
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
22,130 workers
$162,500
Educational Services
17,330 workers
$241,000
Management of Companies and Enterprises
15,470 workers
$428,000
Management of Companies and Enterprises
15,470 workers
$428,000
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
14,730 workers
$168,500
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
13,090 workers
$219,500
Elementary and Secondary Schools
11,750 workers
$209,000
Educational Services, Local Government Owned
10,890 workers
$204,500
Computer Systems Design and Related Services
9,310 workers
$286,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Who works in this role
About 1.8 million people held this occupation in the United States in 2025.
Women
33%
White
85.3%
Black or African American
5.6%
Asian
7%
Hispanic or Latino
8.4%
Race categories and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity overlap, so shares can sum to more than 100 percent. Figures describe this occupation across the national workforce, not any single employer. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, Annual Averages, Table 11, 2025.
Pay trend
National median annual wage, 2020 to 2025: $185,950 to $213,990.
+15.1% over this period
Medians as published each May in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national estimates. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS.
Pay by experience level
How annual pay for this occupation spreads from newcomers to the highest paid, aged to 2026.
Entry10th percentile
$78,500
Early career25th percentile
$134,000
Median50th percentile
$221,500
Experienced75th percentile
$368,500
Top earners90th percentile
$525,500
Bands are the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages for this occupation nationally. Percentiles reflect the full mix of tenure, employer, and location, so they approximate but do not equal years of experience. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS national estimates.
Where this job pays most
Top-paying states for this occupation, average annual wage aged to 2026.
State averages for this occupation from the BLS OEWS state estimates. Cost of living differs by state; a higher wage does not always mean more buying power.
The abilities employers and analysts most associate with this occupation.
Judgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingSystems EvaluationSpeakingManagement of Personnel Resources
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET occupational database.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Direct or coordinate an organization's financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.
Confer with board members, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems.
Prepare budgets for approval, including those for funding or implementation of programs.
Direct, plan, or implement policies, objectives, or activities of organizations or businesses to ensure continuing operations, to maximize returns on investments, or to increase productivity.
Prepare or present reports concerning activities, expenses, budgets, government statutes or rulings, or other items affecting businesses or program services.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Executive exemption
Managerial roles at this level typically qualify for the Executive exemption because they customarily direct the work of two or more full-time employees and have authority over hiring, firing, or promotion decisions. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Pay outlook
Five-year pay outlook for this title
2026$279,000
2027$289,000
2028$299,000
2029$309,500
2030$320,000
2031$331,500
Projection assumes market wages keep rising about 3.5% a year, consistent with recent wage growth measured by the BLS Employment Cost Index. It reflects market movement for the title, not individual raises or promotions, which vary.
Get your Personal Pay Report for Chief Executive
Keep your market comparison in a print-ready PDF, with negotiation targets, a script using your numbers, and a five-year market-pay illustration. Career ladder where available.
StateYears of experienceCurrent salary
One-time purchase. Review the final total, including any applicable tax, in Stripe before you pay. Report available immediately after successful payment. Full refund on request within 7 days of purchase. Refund terms. Prefer to explore first? Run a free market check.
Sources and assumptions
Modeled market estimate, aged to 2026. Underlying source families are BLS OEWS May 2025 for BLS-mapped occupations and the 2018–19 collection for corporate titles. Annual aging is compounded at approximately 3–4%; geographic, industry and company-size repricing are modeled. See the role details and methodology for the applicable source and assumptions.
Your free market check includes an estimated percentile and pay gap when you enter your salary. The paid report adds a PDF, negotiation targets and script, and a five-year market-pay illustration. See a full sample report
The median market pay for a Chief Executive in the United States is about $279,000 per year in 2026, based on WePayFairly's market model.
What is the salary range for a Chief Executive?
Most Chief Executive pay falls between about $134,000 (25th percentile) and $368,500 (75th percentile), with top earners above $525,500.
What does a Chief Executive do?
Core responsibilities include: direct or coordinate an organization's financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency; and confer with board members, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems.
Is pay for Chief Executive roles growing?
Yes. The national median wage for this occupation moved from $185,950 in 2020 to $213,990 in 2025, a change of +15.1% in nominal dollars.
How this role compares
Chief Executive pays 94% above the average across 58 roles in the Management job family (family average $144,000).
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Chief Executive make?
The average base salary for a Chief Executive in the United States is $279,000 per year, or about $134.13 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $134,000 and $368,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Management roles?
The Management job family averages $144,000 across 58 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Chief Executive pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
