The average salary for a CEO in the United States is around $120,000 per year.
Avg Salary
CEOs earn an average yearly salary of $120,000.
Wages typically start from $40,000 and go up to $500,000.
159% above national average Updated in 2023
CEO earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level CEO earnings begin at:
$240.38 per hour
$500,000 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level CEO earnings begin at:
$110.58 per hour
$230,000 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level CEO earnings begin at:
$57.69 per hour
$120,000 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level CEO earnings begin at:
$28.85 per hour
$60,000 per year
10th percentile
Starting level CEO earnings begin at:
$19.23 per hour
$40,000 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
CEO salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $94,572 |
| Texas | $123,000 |
How do CEO salaries compare to similar careers?
CEOs earn 10% more than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than chief executives but more than actuaries.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Chief executive salary | $162K |
| Natural sciences manager salary | $154K |
| CEO salary | $120K |
| Management consultant salary | $115K |
| Product manager salary | $119K |
| Investment fund manager salary | $114K |
| Actuary salary | $121K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)