What is the typical salary range for a Chief Executive?

Pay typically falls between $134,000 and $368,500 per year depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

Chief Executive Salary: $279,000 Average

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Average base salary

$279,000 / year

≈ $23,250 per month · $134.13 per hour

Location

25th percentile
$134,000Average
$279,00075th percentile
$368,500

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.

About this role

Chief Executive is an executive leadership role that sets direction and owns outcomes for its area in the Management job family. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

How this role compares

Chief Executive pays 104% above the average across 37 roles in the Management job family (family average $137,000).

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 $137,000 across 37 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.

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