How Much Does a CEO Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$213,990
CEOs in the U.S. earn a median of $213,990 a year, or $102.88 an hour. Half of CEOs earn more than $213,990 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $507,730.
Pay percentiles for CEOs
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36.39 | $75,700 |
| 25th | $62.28 | $129,540 |
| 50th (median) | $102.88 | $213,990 |
| 75th | $171.25 | $356,200 |
| 90th | $244.10 | $507,730 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for CEOs
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $341,630 | $164.25 | +60% |
| Washington | $339,810 | $163.37 | +59% |
| Illinois | $331,920 | $159.58 | +55% |
| North Carolina | $314,290 | $151.10 | +47% |
| Virginia | $310,740 | $149.40 | +45% |
| New Jersey | $310,440 | $149.25 | +45% |
| Connecticut | $295,120 | $141.89 | +38% |
| Hawaii | $281,640 | $135.41 | +32% |
| South Dakota | $280,900 | $135.05 | +31% |
| New York | $257,980 | $124.03 | +21% |
| United States | $213,990 | $102.88 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many CEOs are there?
BLS counts about 204,350 CEOs employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Chief Executives”. The most jobs are in California (34,700), Pennsylvania (8,850) and Texas (8,780).
The mean (average) annual wage is $269,630, higher than the median of $213,990.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $17,833
- Biweekly
- $8,230
- Weekly
- $4,115
- Daily (8 hours)
- $823
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do CEOs make an hour?
The median hourly wage for CEOs is $102.88. The middle 50% earn between $62.28 and $171.25 an hour.
Which state pays CEOs the most?
Oregon has the highest median wage for CEOs at $341,630, +60% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for CEOs?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of CEOs earn less than $75,700 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.