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Chief Executives Salary
Chief Executives earn a median $213,990 a year in the U.S., with 204,350 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $213,990 a year
- Employment
- 204,350
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- +3.2%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 19,100
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $213,990 · $102.88 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $269,630 · $129.63 an hour (estimate error ±1.9%)
- 10th percentile
- $75,700 · $36.39 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $129,540 · $62.28 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $356,200 · $171.25 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $507,730 · $244.10 an hour
- Employment
- 204,350 (estimate error ±3.1%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 291,600
- Projected for 2035
- 300,900
- Change
- +9,300 (+3.2%)
- Openings each year
- 19,100
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- Self-employed
- 26.6%
Occupational Outlook Handbook (duties, how to become one, work environment)
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $341,630 | 910 |
| 2 | Washington | $339,810 | 3,170 |
| 3 | Illinois | $331,920 | 4,620 |
| 4 | North Carolina | $314,290 | 1,930 |
| 5 | Virginia | $310,740 | 4,870 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $310,440 | 2,430 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $295,120 | 1,660 |
| 8 | Hawaii | $281,640 | 470 |
| 9 | South Dakota | $280,900 | 510 |
| 10 | New York | $257,980 | 8,430 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| California | 34,700 | $218,600 |
| Pennsylvania | 8,850 | $232,560 |
| Texas | 8,780 | $257,850 |
| New York | 8,430 | $257,980 |
| Minnesota | 6,740 | $195,670 |
| Massachusetts | 6,590 | Not reported |
| Michigan | 4,950 | $255,560 |
| Virginia | 4,870 | $310,740 |
| Tennessee | 4,700 | $198,830 |
| Illinois | 4,620 | $331,920 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
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| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midland, TX | $389,330 | 100 |
| 2 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $388,060 | 480 |
| 3 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $381,330 | 140 |
| 4 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $375,810 | 690 |
| 5 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $370,000 | 2,060 |
| 6 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $354,310 | 160 |
| 7 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $344,960 | 3,610 |
| 8 | Ann Arbor, MI | $335,900 | 260 |
| 9 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $329,030 | 740 |
| 10 | Richmond, VA | $326,160 | 820 |
| 11 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $320,060 | 2,580 |
| 12 | Charlottesville, VA | $317,900 | 180 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 10,800 | $234,290 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 7,180 | $301,440 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 5,210 | Not reported |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 5,190 | $288,690 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 4,500 | $209,980 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 4,120 | $292,770 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 3,680 | $169,770 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 3,610 | $344,960 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 3,140 | $138,900 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 2,710 | $238,440 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,680 | Not reported |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,580 | $320,060 |
Visa filings for this occupation
Wages employers offered on Department of Labor filings
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)267 certified filingsMedian offered wage $259,000
- PERM green card (FY 2026 through Q3)66 certified filingsMedian offered wage $234,603
Chief Executives pay by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Related occupations
Frequently asked questions
- How much do chief executives make?
- The median wage for chief executives in the U.S. is $213,990 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $129,540 and $356,200.
- Which state pays chief executives the most?
- Oregon has the highest median wage for this occupation at $341,630 a year.
- What is the job outlook for chief executives?
- BLS projects employment to grow 3.2% from 2025 to 2035, with about 19,100 openings each year on average.
- What education do chief executives need?
- The typical entry-level education is: bachelor's degree.