Chief Executives Salary in the United States
Median annual wage: $213,990 · Median hourly: $102.88 · Employment: 204,350
Annual Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $75,700 | $36.39 |
| 25th | $129,540 | $62.28 |
| Median | $213,990 | $102.88 |
| 75th | $356,200 | $171.25 |
| 90th | $507,730 | $244.10 |
Quick Facts
- Occupational code: 11-1011
- Total U.S. employment: 204,350
- Jobs per 1,000: —
- Hourly salary breakdown
- All-state comparison
A closer look
The mean wage of $269,630 sits 26.0% above the median — the typical worker earns close to the median, while a smaller group of higher earners pulls the average up.
At $102.88 per hour, a full-time schedule (2,080 hours per year) works out to roughly $213,990 — in line with the reported median annual wage of $213,990.
Chief Executives Salary by State
The table below ranks every state by median annual wage. Click a state for detailed local data.
| State | Median Annual | Median Hourly | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $166,420 | $80.01 | -22.2% | 810 |
| Alaska | $166,710 | $80.15 | -22.1% | 640 |
| Arkansas | $119,990 | $57.69 | -43.9% | 3,550 |
| California | $218,600 | $105.10 | +2.2% | 34,700 |
| Colorado | $213,370 | $102.58 | -0.3% | 0 |
| Connecticut | $295,120 | $141.89 | +37.9% | 1,660 |
| Delaware | $199,990 | $96.15 | -6.5% | 390 |
| Georgia | $208,180 | $100.09 | -2.7% | 4,080 |
| Hawaii | $281,640 | $135.41 | +31.6% | 470 |
| Idaho | $177,210 | $85.20 | -17.2% | 2,920 |
| Illinois | $331,920 | $159.58 | +55.1% | 4,620 |
| Indiana | $254,180 | $122.20 | +18.8% | 1,820 |
| Iowa | $211,190 | $101.54 | -1.3% | 3,050 |
| Kansas | $158,100 | $76.01 | -26.1% | 1,960 |
| Kentucky | $179,530 | $86.31 | -16.1% | 2,070 |
| Maine | $138,770 | $66.72 | -35.2% | 1,580 |
| Maryland | $248,660 | $119.55 | +16.2% | 3,180 |
| Massachusetts | — | — | — | 6,590 |
| Michigan | $255,560 | $122.86 | +19.4% | 4,950 |
| Minnesota | $195,670 | $94.07 | -8.6% | 6,740 |
| Mississippi | $139,250 | $66.95 | -34.9% | 310 |
| Missouri | $172,320 | $82.85 | -19.5% | 2,550 |
| Montana | $182,340 | $87.66 | -14.8% | 670 |
| Nebraska | $214,680 | $103.21 | +0.3% | 2,510 |
| Nevada | $149,770 | $72.01 | -30.0% | 1,370 |
| New Hampshire | $168,590 | $81.05 | -21.2% | 0 |
| New Jersey | $310,440 | $149.25 | +45.1% | 2,430 |
| New Mexico | $123,500 | $59.38 | -42.3% | 100 |
| New York | $257,980 | $124.03 | +20.6% | 8,430 |
| North Carolina | $314,290 | $151.10 | +46.9% | 1,930 |
| North Dakota | $164,560 | $79.12 | -23.1% | 380 |
| Ohio | $176,440 | $84.83 | -17.5% | 4,470 |
| Oklahoma | $163,790 | $78.74 | -23.5% | 2,390 |
| Oregon | $341,630 | $164.25 | +59.6% | 910 |
| Pennsylvania | $232,560 | $111.81 | +8.7% | 8,850 |
| Rhode Island | $235,360 | $113.15 | +10.0% | 460 |
| South Carolina | $168,840 | $81.17 | -21.1% | 1,740 |
| South Dakota | $280,900 | $135.05 | +31.3% | 510 |
| Tennessee | $198,830 | $95.59 | -7.1% | 4,700 |
| Texas | $257,850 | $123.97 | +20.5% | 8,780 |
| Utah | $171,880 | $82.64 | -19.7% | 3,140 |
| Vermont | $175,070 | $84.17 | -18.2% | 360 |
| Virginia | $310,740 | $149.40 | +45.2% | 4,870 |
| Washington | $339,810 | $163.37 | +58.8% | 3,170 |
| West Virginia | $151,950 | $73.05 | -29.0% | 1,700 |
| Wisconsin | $208,350 | $100.17 | -2.6% | 0 |
| Wyoming | $147,940 | $71.13 | -30.9% | 60 |
Data source: BLS OES state file · U.S. BLS OES, May 2024 (updated April 2025)
Related Occupations
- Registered Nurses — $97,550/yr
- Cashiers — $32,880/yr
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $40,240/yr
- Stockers and Order Fillers — $37,330/yr
- Customer Service Representatives — $44,770/yr
- Office Clerks, General — $45,010/yr
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for chief executives?
The median annual wage for chief executives is $213,990 ($102.88 per hour), according to the BLS OES survey for May 2024.
Which state pays chief executives the most?
Wages vary by state. Use the state table above to compare median annual pay across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
How many chief executives are employed in the U.S.?
There are approximately 204,350 chief executives employed nationally, per BLS OES.
How much do chief executives make per hour?
The median hourly wage is $102.88. See the hourly salary page for the full percentile breakdown.