11 Series · SOC 11-1011
Chief Executives Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $213,990
- Median / year
- $507,730
- Top 10% earn
- +4.3%
- Growth '23–'33
- 204,350
- US workers
Chief Executives earn a median of $213,990 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $213,990, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $75,700 (10th percentile) to $507,730 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 204,350 US workers. Oregon pays the most ($341,630), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Chief Executives earn a median of $213,990, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 97% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Management, it ranks #1 of 37 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 4.3% by 2033.
- $213,990
- Median annual wage
- Top 3%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #1 of 37
- in Management
- 6.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Oregon at $341,630. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) pays a national median of $213,990 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $75,700 at the 10th percentile to $507,730 at the 90th, with a mean of $269,630 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 204,350 Americans work in this occupation across 48 reporting states and 437 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 22,200 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree, with 5 years or more of prior experience generally required. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 2.8 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.8 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Oregon pays the highest state median at $341,630, which is +60% above the national figure. The top metro is Medford, OR at $615,500 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 204,350 jobs Median $213,990/yr
Median Salary
$213,990
per year
Median Hourly
$102.88/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$269,630
average
Employment
204,350
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Chief Executives pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$213,990 Top 3% higher than 97% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 11-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Chief Executives; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 11-series occupations with growth data, Chief Executives sits on the slower-growing side at +4.3% growth and $213,990 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+4.3%
About average
Annual Openings
22,200
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Work Experience
5 years or more
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
2.8/100K
Injury Rate
0.8/100
Danger Index
4.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Chief Executives roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Writing 4.1
Critical Thinking 4.1
Reading Comprehension 4.0
Active Listening 4.0
Speaking 4.0
Complex Problem Solving 4.0
Social Perceptiveness 3.9
Persuasion 3.9
Judgment and Decision Making 3.9
Systems Analysis 3.9
Knowledge Areas
English Language 4.3
Administration and Management 4.2
Law and Government 3.7
Communications and Media 3.6
Building and Construction 3.5
Customer and Personal Service 3.4
Education and Training 3.4
Economics and Accounting 3.2
Sales and Marketing 3.1
Transportation 3.1
Key Tasks
- ▸ Direct or coordinate an organization's financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.
- ▸ Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of sustainability programs.
- ▸ Develop or execute strategies to address issues such as energy use, resource conservation, recycling, pollution reduction, waste elimination, transportation, education, and building design.
- ▸ Develop, or oversee the development of, sustainability evaluation or monitoring systems.
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Supervise employees or volunteers working on sustainability projects.
- ▸ Prepare or present reports concerning activities, expenses, budgets, government statutes or rulings, or other items affecting businesses or program services.
- ▸ Implement corrective action plans to solve organizational or departmental problems.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$75,700
25th Percentile
$129,540
Median
$213,990
75th Percentile
$356,200
90th Percentile
$507,730
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 48 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $341,630 | +60% above national |
| 2 | Washington | $339,810 | +59% above national |
| 3 | Illinois | $331,920 | +55% above national |
| 4 | North Carolina | $314,290 | +47% above national |
| 5 | Virginia | $310,740 | +45% above national |
| 6 | New Jersey | $310,440 | +45% above national |
| 7 | Connecticut | $295,120 | +38% above national |
| 8 | Hawaii | $281,640 | +32% above national |
| 9 | South Dakota | $280,900 | +31% above national |
| 10 | New York | $257,980 | +21% above national |
| 11 | Texas | $257,850 | +20% above national |
| 12 | Michigan | $255,560 | +19% above national |
| 13 | Indiana | $254,180 | +19% above national |
| 14 | Maryland | $248,660 | +16% above national |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $235,360 | +10% above national |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $232,560 | +9% above national |
| 17 | California | $218,600 | +2% above national |
| 18 | Nebraska | $214,680 | same as national |
| 19 | Colorado | $213,370 | same as national |
| 20 | Iowa | $211,190 | 1% below national |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $208,350 | 3% below national |
| 22 | Georgia | $208,180 | 3% below national |
| 23 | Delaware | $199,990 | 7% below national |
| 24 | Tennessee | $198,830 | 7% below national |
| 25 | Minnesota | $195,670 | 9% below national |
| 26 | Montana | $182,340 | 15% below national |
| 27 | Kentucky | $179,530 | 16% below national |
| 28 | Idaho | $177,210 | 17% below national |
| 29 | Ohio | $176,440 | 18% below national |
| 30 | Vermont | $175,070 | 18% below national |
| 31 | Missouri | $172,320 | 19% below national |
| 32 | Utah | $171,880 | 20% below national |
| 33 | South Carolina | $168,840 | 21% below national |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $168,590 | 21% below national |
| 35 | Alaska | $166,710 | 22% below national |
| 36 | Alabama | $166,420 | 22% below national |
| 37 | North Dakota | $164,560 | 23% below national |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $163,790 | 23% below national |
| 39 | Kansas | $158,100 | 26% below national |
| 40 | West Virginia | $151,950 | 29% below national |
| 41 | Nevada | $149,770 | 30% below national |
| 42 | Wyoming | $147,940 | 31% below national |
| 43 | Mississippi | $139,250 | 35% below national |
| 44 | Maine | $138,770 | 35% below national |
| 45 | New Mexico | $123,500 | 42% below national |
| 46 | Arkansas | $119,990 | 44% below national |
| 47 | Virgin Islands | $104,010 | 51% below national |
| 48 | Puerto Rico | $97,510 | 54% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 437 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medford, OR | $615,500 | +188% above national |
| 2 | Midland, MI | $587,950 | +175% above national |
| 3 | Midland, TX | $389,330 | +82% above national |
| 4 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $388,060 | +81% above national |
| 5 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $381,330 | +78% above national |
| 6 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $375,810 | +76% above national |
| 7 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $370,000 | +73% above national |
| 8 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $354,310 | +66% above national |
| 9 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $344,960 | +61% above national |
| 10 | Evansville, IN | $339,330 | +59% above national |
| 11 | Springfield, IL | $338,570 | +58% above national |
| 12 | Ann Arbor, MI | $335,900 | +57% above national |
| 13 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $329,030 | +54% above national |
| 14 | Richmond, VA | $326,160 | +52% above national |
| 15 | Rockford, IL | $323,030 | +51% above national |
| 16 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $320,060 | +50% above national |
| 17 | Charlottesville, VA | $317,900 | +49% above national |
| 18 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $315,920 | +48% above national |
| 19 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $312,730 | +46% above national |
| 20 | New Haven, CT | $311,110 | +45% above national |
| 21 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $310,740 | +45% above national |
| 22 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $309,450 | +45% above national |
| 23 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $304,110 | +42% above national |
| 24 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $301,440 | +41% above national |
| 25 | Rapid City, SD | $301,420 | +41% above national |
| 26 | Wilmington, NC | $298,730 | +40% above national |
| 27 | Jackson, MI | $298,440 | +39% above national |
| 28 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $297,350 | +39% above national |
| 29 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $292,770 | +37% above national |
| 30 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $290,870 | +36% above national |
| 31 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $288,690 | +35% above national |
| 32 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $288,150 | +35% above national |
| 33 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $287,180 | +34% above national |
| 34 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $286,050 | +34% above national |
| 35 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $285,300 | +33% above national |
| 36 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $282,170 | +32% above national |
| 37 | Odessa, TX | $281,480 | +32% above national |
| 38 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $280,900 | +31% above national |
| 39 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $279,080 | +30% above national |
| 40 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $276,970 | +29% above national |
| 41 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $275,820 | +29% above national |
| 42 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $275,270 | +29% above national |
| 43 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $274,520 | +28% above national |
| 44 | Winston-Salem, NC | $273,710 | +28% above national |
| 45 | Asheville, NC | $270,520 | +26% above national |
| 46 | Peoria, IL | $270,090 | +26% above national |
| 47 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $268,090 | +25% above national |
| 48 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $268,030 | +25% above national |
| 49 | Harrisonburg, VA | $264,970 | +24% above national |
| 50 | Salem, OR | $261,650 | +22% above national |
| 51 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $261,280 | +22% above national |
| 52 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $260,940 | +22% above national |
| 53 | Lexington Park, MD | $260,050 | +22% above national |
| 54 | Roanoke, VA | $258,310 | +21% above national |
| 55 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $256,610 | +20% above national |
| 56 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $256,320 | +20% above national |
| 57 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $254,180 | +19% above national |
| 58 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $251,520 | +18% above national |
| 59 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $250,670 | +17% above national |
| 60 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $248,810 | +16% above national |
| 61 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $248,660 | +16% above national |
| 62 | Traverse City, MI | $248,510 | +16% above national |
| 63 | Bay City, MI | $247,680 | +16% above national |
| 64 | Monroe, MI | $244,760 | +14% above national |
| 65 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $243,620 | +14% above national |
| 66 | Dalton, GA | $242,760 | +13% above national |
| 67 | Napa, CA | $241,590 | +13% above national |
| 68 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $239,990 | +12% above national |
| 69 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $238,440 | +11% above national |
| 70 | Gainesville, FL | $238,200 | +11% above national |
| 71 | Yakima, WA | $238,180 | +11% above national |
| 72 | Tyler, TX | $237,880 | +11% above national |
| 73 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $237,600 | +11% above national |
| 74 | Rochester, NY | $237,180 | +11% above national |
| 75 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $236,980 | +11% above national |
| 76 | Bellingham, WA | $236,930 | +11% above national |
| 77 | Bloomington, IN | $235,900 | +10% above national |
| 78 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $234,290 | +9% above national |
| 79 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $234,030 | +9% above national |
| 80 | Williamsport, PA | $233,920 | +9% above national |
| 81 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $233,760 | +9% above national |
| 82 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $231,370 | +8% above national |
| 83 | Reading, PA | $229,740 | +7% above national |
| 84 | Corpus Christi, TX | $229,340 | +7% above national |
| 85 | Omaha, NE-IA | $228,220 | +7% above national |
| 86 | Billings, MT | $227,000 | +6% above national |
| 87 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $226,720 | +6% above national |
| 88 | Salinas, CA | $226,270 | +6% above national |
| 89 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $225,760 | +6% above national |
| 90 | Jacksonville, FL | $225,410 | +5% above national |
| 91 | Lancaster, PA | $224,160 | +5% above national |
| 92 | Colorado Springs, CO | $223,990 | +5% above national |
| 93 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $222,760 | +4% above national |
| 94 | Green Bay, WI | $222,320 | +4% above national |
| 95 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $221,640 | +4% above national |
| 96 | Winchester, VA-WV | $221,620 | +4% above national |
| 97 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $220,940 | +3% above national |
| 98 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $220,590 | +3% above national |
| 99 | El Paso, TX | $220,050 | +3% above national |
| 100 | Lynchburg, VA | $219,400 | +3% above national |
| 101 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $219,230 | +2% above national |
| 102 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $218,990 | +2% above national |
| 103 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $218,840 | +2% above national |
| 104 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $218,690 | +2% above national |
| 105 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $218,190 | +2% above national |
| 106 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $217,960 | +2% above national |
| 107 | Great Falls, MT | $217,910 | +2% above national |
| 108 | Lincoln, NE | $217,780 | +2% above national |
| 109 | York-Hanover, PA | $217,730 | +2% above national |
| 110 | Waco, TX | $217,610 | +2% above national |
| 111 | Madison, WI | $217,010 | +1% above national |
| 112 | Syracuse, NY | $216,610 | +1% above national |
| 113 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $216,530 | +1% above national |
| 114 | Boulder, CO | $216,400 | +1% above national |
| 115 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $216,240 | +1% above national |
| 116 | Pittsburgh, PA | $216,060 | +1% above national |
| 117 | Kenosha, WI | $215,930 | +1% above national |
| 118 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $214,340 | same as national |
| 119 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $213,920 | same as national |
| 120 | Lebanon, PA | $213,830 | same as national |
| 121 | Fort Wayne, IN | $213,720 | same as national |
| 122 | Huntsville, AL | $213,530 | same as national |
| 123 | Dubuque, IA | $212,880 | 1% below national |
| 124 | Decatur, IL | $212,400 | 1% below national |
| 125 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $211,760 | 1% below national |
| 126 | Battle Creek, MI | $211,560 | 1% below national |
| 127 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $210,790 | 1% below national |
| 128 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $210,760 | 2% below national |
| 129 | Greeley, CO | $210,700 | 2% below national |
| 130 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $210,670 | 2% below national |
| 131 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $210,650 | 2% below national |
| 132 | Niles, MI | $210,620 | 2% below national |
| 133 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $209,990 | 2% below national |
| 134 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $209,980 | 2% below national |
| 135 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $209,140 | 2% below national |
| 136 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $209,080 | 2% below national |
| 137 | Yuba City, CA | $209,060 | 2% below national |
| 138 | Amarillo, TX | $208,170 | 3% below national |
| 139 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $208,030 | 3% below national |
| 140 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $208,020 | 3% below national |
| 141 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $207,170 | 3% below national |
| 142 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $207,100 | 3% below national |
| 143 | Ames, IA | $206,090 | 4% below national |
| 144 | Longview, TX | $205,770 | 4% below national |
| 145 | Chambersburg, PA | $205,570 | 4% below national |
| 146 | Iowa City, IA | $205,340 | 4% below national |
| 147 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $205,030 | 4% below national |
| 148 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $205,000 | 4% below national |
| 149 | Eau Claire, WI | $204,710 | 4% below national |
| 150 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $204,450 | 4% below national |
| 151 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $204,190 | 5% below national |
| 152 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $204,040 | 5% below national |
| 153 | State College, PA | $203,960 | 5% below national |
| 154 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $203,790 | 5% below national |
| 155 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $203,220 | 5% below national |
| 156 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $202,990 | 5% below national |
| 157 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $202,840 | 5% below national |
| 158 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $202,750 | 5% below national |
| 159 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $202,590 | 5% below national |
| 160 | Wausau, WI | $202,460 | 5% below national |
| 161 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $202,190 | 6% below national |
| 162 | Fond du Lac, WI | $201,720 | 6% below national |
| 163 | Appleton, WI | $201,300 | 6% below national |
| 164 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $201,230 | 6% below national |
| 165 | Jackson, TN | $201,090 | 6% below national |
| 166 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $200,920 | 6% below national |
| 167 | Modesto, CA | $200,900 | 6% below national |
| 168 | Saginaw, MI | $200,190 | 6% below national |
| 169 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $199,990 | 7% below national |
| 170 | Bozeman, MT | $199,920 | 7% below national |
| 171 | Kingston, NY | $199,860 | 7% below national |
| 172 | Cleveland, OH | $199,350 | 7% below national |
| 173 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $199,010 | 7% below national |
| 174 | Wichita, KS | $198,910 | 7% below national |
| 175 | Knoxville, TN | $198,890 | 7% below national |
| 176 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $198,520 | 7% below national |
| 177 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $198,390 | 7% below national |
| 178 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $198,350 | 7% below national |
| 179 | Utica-Rome, NY | $197,880 | 8% below national |
| 180 | Savannah, GA | $197,840 | 8% below national |
| 181 | Flint, MI | $197,790 | 8% below national |
| 182 | Spartanburg, SC | $197,540 | 8% below national |
| 183 | Altoona, PA | $197,360 | 8% below national |
| 184 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $197,220 | 8% below national |
| 185 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $196,990 | 8% below national |
| 186 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $196,880 | 8% below national |
| 187 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $196,780 | 8% below national |
| 188 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $196,680 | 8% below national |
| 189 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $196,040 | 8% below national |
| 190 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $195,650 | 9% below national |
| 191 | Johnson City, TN | $195,450 | 9% below national |
| 192 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $195,400 | 9% below national |
| 193 | Sheboygan, WI | $195,040 | 9% below national |
| 194 | Rochester, MN | $194,700 | 9% below national |
| 195 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $194,350 | 9% below national |
| 196 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $193,460 | 10% below national |
| 197 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $193,140 | 10% below national |
| 198 | Elmira, NY | $192,530 | 10% below national |
| 199 | Glens Falls, NY | $192,520 | 10% below national |
| 200 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $191,360 | 11% below national |
| 201 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $191,030 | 11% below national |
| 202 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $190,830 | 11% below national |
| 203 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $190,650 | 11% below national |
| 204 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $190,480 | 11% below national |
| 205 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $190,400 | 11% below national |
| 206 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $190,020 | 11% below national |
| 207 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $189,410 | 11% below national |
| 208 | Fresno, CA | $188,930 | 12% below national |
| 209 | Fargo, ND-MN | $188,510 | 12% below national |
| 210 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $186,440 | 13% below national |
| 211 | Tucson, AZ | $185,100 | 14% below national |
| 212 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $184,930 | 14% below national |
| 213 | St. Cloud, MN | $184,610 | 14% below national |
| 214 | Binghamton, NY | $184,360 | 14% below national |
| 215 | Anchorage, AK | $183,110 | 14% below national |
| 216 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $182,650 | 15% below national |
| 217 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $182,650 | 15% below national |
| 218 | Twin Falls, ID | $182,470 | 15% below national |
| 219 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $182,260 | 15% below national |
| 220 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $182,210 | 15% below national |
| 221 | Merced, CA | $181,660 | 15% below national |
| 222 | Gettysburg, PA | $180,910 | 15% below national |
| 223 | Pocatello, ID | $180,280 | 16% below national |
| 224 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $180,240 | 16% below national |
| 225 | Vallejo, CA | $180,180 | 16% below national |
| 226 | Oklahoma City, OK | $179,990 | 16% below national |
| 227 | Springfield, MO | $179,910 | 16% below national |
| 228 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $179,520 | 16% below national |
| 229 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $179,360 | 16% below national |
| 230 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $179,080 | 16% below national |
| 231 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $178,860 | 16% below national |
| 232 | El Centro, CA | $177,950 | 17% below national |
| 233 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $177,700 | 17% below national |
| 234 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $177,090 | 17% below national |
| 235 | Columbia, SC | $176,890 | 17% below national |
| 236 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $176,890 | 17% below national |
| 237 | Bismarck, ND | $176,820 | 17% below national |
| 238 | Chico, CA | $176,750 | 17% below national |
| 239 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $176,740 | 17% below national |
| 240 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $176,700 | 17% below national |
| 241 | Bangor, ME | $176,370 | 18% below national |
| 242 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $176,160 | 18% below national |
| 243 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $176,030 | 18% below national |
| 244 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $176,000 | 18% below national |
| 245 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $175,240 | 18% below national |
| 246 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $175,070 | 18% below national |
| 247 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $174,980 | 18% below national |
| 248 | Idaho Falls, ID | $174,410 | 18% below national |
| 249 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $174,260 | 19% below national |
| 250 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $174,230 | 19% below national |
| 251 | Lubbock, TX | $174,120 | 19% below national |
| 252 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $173,950 | 19% below national |
| 253 | Helena, MT | $173,880 | 19% below national |
| 254 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $173,720 | 19% below national |
| 255 | Grand Island, NE | $173,690 | 19% below national |
| 256 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $173,240 | 19% below national |
| 257 | Morgantown, WV | $172,990 | 19% below national |
| 258 | Boise City, ID | $172,780 | 19% below national |
| 259 | Akron, OH | $172,610 | 19% below national |
| 260 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $172,470 | 19% below national |
| 261 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $172,410 | 19% below national |
| 262 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $171,590 | 20% below national |
| 263 | Owensboro, KY | $171,540 | 20% below national |
| 264 | Mankato, MN | $171,460 | 20% below national |
| 265 | Mobile, AL | $171,130 | 20% below national |
| 266 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $171,120 | 20% below national |
| 267 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $170,960 | 20% below national |
| 268 | Redding, CA | $170,770 | 20% below national |
| 269 | Erie, PA | $170,340 | 20% below national |
| 270 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $170,110 | 21% below national |
| 271 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $169,770 | 21% below national |
| 272 | Columbus, GA-AL | $169,630 | 21% below national |
| 273 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $169,240 | 21% below national |
| 274 | Toledo, OH | $168,830 | 21% below national |
| 275 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $168,590 | 21% below national |
| 276 | Missoula, MT | $168,200 | 21% below national |
| 277 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $167,250 | 22% below national |
| 278 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $167,090 | 22% below national |
| 279 | Birmingham, AL | $167,080 | 22% below national |
| 280 | Morristown, TN | $166,650 | 22% below national |
| 281 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $166,420 | 22% below national |
| 282 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $166,380 | 22% below national |
| 283 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $166,240 | 22% below national |
| 284 | Abilene, TX | $165,770 | 23% below national |
| 285 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $165,770 | 23% below national |
| 286 | Ogden, UT | $165,740 | 23% below national |
| 287 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $165,550 | 23% below national |
| 288 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $165,290 | 23% below national |
| 289 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $164,880 | 23% below national |
| 290 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $164,810 | 23% below national |
| 291 | Lawrence, KS | $164,800 | 23% below national |
| 292 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $164,770 | 23% below national |
| 293 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $164,460 | 23% below national |
| 294 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $164,410 | 23% below national |
| 295 | Bowling Green, KY | $164,080 | 23% below national |
| 296 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $163,910 | 23% below national |
| 297 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $163,640 | 24% below national |
| 298 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $163,570 | 24% below national |
| 299 | Wichita Falls, TX | $163,170 | 24% below national |
| 300 | Columbus, OH | $162,910 | 24% below national |
| 301 | Tulsa, OK | $162,260 | 24% below national |
| 302 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $161,760 | 24% below national |
| 303 | Charleston, WV | $161,540 | 25% below national |
| 304 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $161,180 | 25% below national |
| 305 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $161,100 | 25% below national |
| 306 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $160,950 | 25% below national |
| 307 | Florence, SC | $160,660 | 25% below national |
| 308 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $160,480 | 25% below national |
| 309 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $160,290 | 25% below national |
| 310 | Columbia, MO | $159,890 | 25% below national |
| 311 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $159,670 | 25% below national |
| 312 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $159,260 | 26% below national |
| 313 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $159,120 | 26% below national |
| 314 | Elizabethtown, KY | $158,670 | 26% below national |
| 315 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $158,660 | 26% below national |
| 316 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $158,570 | 26% below national |
| 317 | Duluth, MN-WI | $158,260 | 26% below national |
| 318 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $158,050 | 26% below national |
| 319 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $157,890 | 26% below national |
| 320 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $157,800 | 26% below national |
| 321 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $157,500 | 26% below national |
| 322 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $157,020 | 27% below national |
| 323 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $156,990 | 27% below national |
| 324 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $156,980 | 27% below national |
| 325 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $156,860 | 27% below national |
| 326 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $156,330 | 27% below national |
| 327 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $156,200 | 27% below national |
| 328 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $156,020 | 27% below national |
| 329 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $155,910 | 27% below national |
| 330 | Montgomery, AL | $155,700 | 27% below national |
| 331 | Visalia, CA | $155,510 | 27% below national |
| 332 | Johnstown, PA | $153,570 | 28% below national |
| 333 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $152,300 | 29% below national |
| 334 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $151,460 | 29% below national |
| 335 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $151,460 | 29% below national |
| 336 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $151,250 | 29% below national |
| 337 | Punta Gorda, FL | $151,230 | 29% below national |
| 338 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $150,930 | 29% below national |
| 339 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $150,910 | 29% below national |
| 340 | Lima, OH | $150,740 | 30% below national |
| 341 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $150,220 | 30% below national |
| 342 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $150,110 | 30% below national |
| 343 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $150,080 | 30% below national |
| 344 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $149,530 | 30% below national |
| 345 | Jackson, MS | $149,490 | 30% below national |
| 346 | Paducah, KY-IL | $148,710 | 31% below national |
| 347 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $147,480 | 31% below national |
| 348 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $146,990 | 31% below national |
| 349 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $146,670 | 31% below national |
| 350 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $145,910 | 32% below national |
| 351 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $144,980 | 32% below national |
| 352 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $144,460 | 32% below national |
| 353 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $143,530 | 33% below national |
| 354 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $143,150 | 33% below national |
| 355 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $143,140 | 33% below national |
| 356 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $143,130 | 33% below national |
| 357 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $142,390 | 33% below national |
| 358 | Yuma, AZ | $141,100 | 34% below national |
| 359 | Cleveland, TN | $140,930 | 34% below national |
| 360 | Topeka, KS | $140,330 | 34% below national |
| 361 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $139,950 | 35% below national |
| 362 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $139,830 | 35% below national |
| 363 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $138,900 | 35% below national |
| 364 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $138,560 | 35% below national |
| 365 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $138,440 | 35% below national |
| 366 | Manhattan, KS | $138,290 | 35% below national |
| 367 | Lawton, OK | $137,500 | 36% below national |
| 368 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $137,500 | 36% below national |
| 369 | Logan, UT-ID | $136,720 | 36% below national |
| 370 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $136,250 | 36% below national |
| 371 | Minot, ND | $135,870 | 37% below national |
| 372 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $134,710 | 37% below national |
| 373 | Joplin, MO-KS | $134,670 | 37% below national |
| 374 | Lafayette, LA | $134,660 | 37% below national |
| 375 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $134,650 | 37% below national |
| 376 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $134,640 | 37% below national |
| 377 | Flagstaff, AZ | $134,510 | 37% below national |
| 378 | Valdosta, GA | $133,570 | 38% below national |
| 379 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $132,700 | 38% below national |
| 380 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $131,540 | 39% below national |
| 381 | Ocala, FL | $131,440 | 39% below national |
| 382 | Beckley, WV | $131,040 | 39% below national |
| 383 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $131,020 | 39% below national |
| 384 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $130,010 | 39% below national |
| 385 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $130,000 | 39% below national |
| 386 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $130,000 | 39% below national |
| 387 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $129,850 | 39% below national |
| 388 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $129,620 | 39% below national |
| 389 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $129,490 | 39% below national |
| 390 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $128,760 | 40% below national |
| 391 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $127,100 | 41% below national |
| 392 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $126,890 | 41% below national |
| 393 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $126,660 | 41% below national |
| 394 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $126,450 | 41% below national |
| 395 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $125,830 | 41% below national |
| 396 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $125,460 | 41% below national |
| 397 | Carson City, NV | $125,280 | 41% below national |
| 398 | Alexandria, LA | $125,270 | 41% below national |
| 399 | Reno, NV | $124,300 | 42% below national |
| 400 | St. George, UT | $124,280 | 42% below national |
| 401 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $123,600 | 42% below national |
| 402 | Albuquerque, NM | $123,500 | 42% below national |
| 403 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $123,170 | 42% below national |
| 404 | Monroe, LA | $123,090 | 42% below national |
| 405 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $122,670 | 43% below national |
| 406 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $121,560 | 43% below national |
| 407 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $121,520 | 43% below national |
| 408 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $121,100 | 43% below national |
| 409 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $120,900 | 44% below national |
| 410 | Sandusky, OH | $120,030 | 44% below national |
| 411 | Jonesboro, AR | $120,020 | 44% below national |
| 412 | Hot Springs, AR | $119,990 | 44% below national |
| 413 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $118,090 | 45% below national |
| 414 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $114,820 | 46% below national |
| 415 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $114,550 | 46% below national |
| 416 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $113,890 | 47% below national |
| 417 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $113,440 | 47% below national |
| 418 | Jefferson City, MO | $113,090 | 47% below national |
| 419 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $112,830 | 47% below national |
| 420 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $109,990 | 49% below national |
| 421 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $109,730 | 49% below national |
| 422 | Lake Charles, LA | $108,200 | 49% below national |
| 423 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $107,790 | 50% below national |
| 424 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $107,210 | 50% below national |
| 425 | Rome, GA | $106,740 | 50% below national |
| 426 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $106,100 | 50% below national |
| 427 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $104,500 | 51% below national |
| 428 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $104,240 | 51% below national |
| 429 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $103,980 | 51% below national |
| 430 | Sebring, FL | $100,430 | 53% below national |
| 431 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $98,800 | 54% below national |
| 432 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $93,350 | 56% below national |
| 433 | Mayaguez, PR | $90,220 | 58% below national |
| 434 | Puerto Rico nonmetropolitan area | $88,150 | 59% below national |
| 435 | Arecibo, PR | $86,270 | 60% below national |
| 436 | Aguadilla, PR | $86,100 | 60% below national |
| 437 | Ponce, PR | $81,730 | 62% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 11 (management) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Chief Executives make? ▼
The median annual salary for Chief Executives is $213,990 ($102.88/hour). The salary range spans from $75,700 at the 10th percentile to $507,730 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Chief Executives the most? ▼
Oregon pays the highest median salary for Chief Executives at $341,630/year, which is +60% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Chief Executives? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Chief Executives is Bachelor's degree. 5 years or more of related work experience is also typically required.
How dangerous is being a Chief Executives? ▼
Chief Executives has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 2.8 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.8 per 100 workers.
Is Chief Executives a good career? ▼
Employment for Chief Executives is projected to grow 4.3% from 2024 to 2034, which is about average. About 22,200 openings are projected each year.
How does Chief Executives pay vary by state? ▼
Chief Executives salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Oregon at $341,630/year, while Maine pays the least at $138,770/year. BLS data covers 48 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Chief Executives? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Chief Executives is Medford, OR at $615,500/year. BLS reports wage data for 437 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Chief Executives pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $356,200/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Oregon leads at $341,630/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.