Business25% remote-eligible+3.2% YoY growth

Chief Executive Officer Salary
by City (2026)

Lead the overall strategy, culture, and performance of an organization. National median: $235K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$235K

Top 10% earn

$620K

Entry level

$155K

Salary growth

+3.2%/yr

Chief Executive Officer salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$233K	$353K	$570K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$225K	$341K	$551K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$217K	$330K	$533K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$216K	$328K	$530K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$216K	$328K	$530K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$214K	$324K	$524K	185	9.3%
Washington, DC	$214K	$324K	$524K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$209K	$317K	$512K	175	None ✓
Jersey City, NJ	$209K	$317K	$513K	162	10.75%
Irvine, CA	$207K	$314K	$507K	172	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$202K	$306K	$494K	163	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$202K	$306K	$495K	165	6.85%
Seattle, WA	$202K	$306K	$494K	150	None ✓
Boston, MA	$202K	$306K	$494K	162	5%
Arlington, VA	$202K	$306K	$494K	148	5.75%
Bethesda, MD	$202K	$306K	$495K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$200K	$303K	$490K	162	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$198K	$301K	$486K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$197K	$299K	$483K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$195K	$295K	$478K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$194K	$294K	$475K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$191K	$290K	$469K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$190K	$288K	$466K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$190K	$288K	$466K	148	5.75%
Long Beach, CA	$189K	$287K	$464K	155	9.3%
Alexandria, VA	$188K	$285K	$460K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$188K	$285K	$460K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$184K	$279K	$452K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$183K	$277K	$448K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$183K	$277K	$448K	138	9.3%
Portland, OR	$183K	$277K	$448K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$183K	$277K	$448K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$183K	$277K	$448K	138	None ✓
Austin, TX	$178K	$270K	$437K	110	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$178K	$270K	$437K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$178K	$270K	$437K	118	2.5%
Denver, CO	$178K	$270K	$437K	118	4.55%
Miami, FL	$174K	$263K	$426K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$174K	$263K	$426K	128	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$174K	$263K	$426K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$174K	$263K	$426K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$174K	$263K	$426K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$174K	$263K	$426K	192	11%
New Haven, CT	$171K	$260K	$420K	122	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$171K	$259K	$418K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$171K	$259K	$418K	105	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$171K	$259K	$418K	99	5.75%
Minneapolis, MN	$171K	$259K	$418K	106	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$171K	$259K	$418K	105	4.85%
Hartford, CT	$171K	$259K	$418K	118	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$170K	$258K	$417K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$169K	$256K	$413K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$169K	$256K	$413K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$169K	$256K	$413K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$169K	$256K	$413K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$169K	$256K	$413K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$169K	$256K	$413K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$169K	$256K	$413K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$169K	$256K	$413K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$169K	$256K	$413K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$169K	$256K	$413K	118	5.99%
McKinney, TX	$167K	$254K	$410K	108	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$167K	$254K	$410K	118	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$167K	$254K	$410K	112	4.55%
Raleigh, NC	$167K	$254K	$410K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$167K	$254K	$410K	100	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$167K	$254K	$410K	104	6.8%
Anchorage, AK	$167K	$254K	$410K	128	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$166K	$252K	$408K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$166K	$252K	$408K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$166K	$252K	$408K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$166K	$252K	$408K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$166K	$252K	$408K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$166K	$252K	$408K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$166K	$252K	$408K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$166K	$252K	$408K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$164K	$249K	$403K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$164K	$249K	$403K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$164K	$249K	$403K	112	4.75%
Irving, TX	$163K	$247K	$399K	97	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$163K	$247K	$399K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$163K	$247K	$399K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$163K	$247K	$399K	105	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$163K	$247K	$399K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$163K	$247K	$399K	102	None ✓
Eugene, OR	$163K	$247K	$399K	110	9.9%
Provo, UT	$163K	$247K	$399K	100	4.85%
Round Rock, TX	$162K	$245K	$396K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$162K	$245K	$396K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$162K	$245K	$396K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$162K	$245K	$396K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$162K	$245K	$396K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$162K	$245K	$396K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$161K	$244K	$395K	91	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$159K	$242K	$391K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$159K	$242K	$391K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$159K	$242K	$391K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$159K	$242K	$391K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$159K	$242K	$391K	105	5.8%
Fort Worth, TX	$158K	$240K	$388K	93	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$158K	$240K	$388K	100	None ✓
Reno, NV	$158K	$240K	$388K	108	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$157K	$239K	$386K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$157K	$239K	$386K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$156K	$236K	$382K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$156K	$236K	$382K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$156K	$236K	$382K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$156K	$236K	$382K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$156K	$236K	$382K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$156K	$236K	$382K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$156K	$236K	$382K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$156K	$236K	$382K	100	6.6%
Arlington, TX	$155K	$235K	$380K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$155K	$235K	$380K	91	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$155K	$235K	$380K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$155K	$235K	$380K	98	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$155K	$235K	$380K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$155K	$235K	$380K	90	3.99%
Pittsburgh, PA	$155K	$235K	$380K	90	3.07%
Las Vegas, NV	$155K	$235K	$380K	102	None ✓
Charleston, SC	$155K	$235K	$380K	105	6.5%
Albany, NY	$155K	$234K	$379K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$155K	$234K	$379K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$155K	$234K	$379K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$155K	$234K	$379K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$155K	$234K	$379K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$155K	$234K	$379K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$155K	$234K	$379K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$155K	$234K	$379K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$155K	$234K	$379K	98	7.15%
Bakersfield, CA	$152K	$231K	$374K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$152K	$231K	$374K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$152K	$231K	$374K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$152K	$231K	$374K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$152K	$231K	$374K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$152K	$231K	$374K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$152K	$231K	$374K	95	6.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$152K	$230K	$372K	98	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$152K	$230K	$372K	88	3.99%
Kansas City, MO	$152K	$230K	$372K	90	5.3%
Madison, WI	$152K	$230K	$372K	102	5.3%
Midland, TX	$150K	$228K	$368K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$150K	$228K	$368K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$150K	$228K	$368K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$150K	$228K	$368K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$150K	$228K	$368K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$149K	$226K	$365K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$149K	$226K	$365K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$149K	$226K	$365K	90	4.95%
Colorado Springs, CO	$149K	$226K	$365K	102	4.55%
Sterling Heights, MI	$149K	$226K	$365K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$149K	$226K	$365K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$149K	$226K	$365K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$149K	$226K	$365K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$149K	$226K	$365K	90	5.3%
Huntsville, AL	$149K	$226K	$365K	88	5%
Fargo, ND	$149K	$226K	$365K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$147K	$223K	$361K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$147K	$223K	$361K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$147K	$223K	$361K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$147K	$223K	$361K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$147K	$223K	$361K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$147K	$223K	$361K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$147K	$223K	$361K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$147K	$223K	$361K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$147K	$223K	$361K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$147K	$223K	$361K	82	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$147K	$223K	$361K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$147K	$223K	$361K	88	5%
Des Moines, IA	$147K	$223K	$361K	88	4.82%
Great Falls, MT	$147K	$223K	$361K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$147K	$223K	$361K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$147K	$223K	$361K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$147K	$223K	$361K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$147K	$223K	$361K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$145K	$220K	$356K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$145K	$220K	$356K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$145K	$220K	$356K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$145K	$220K	$356K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$145K	$220K	$356K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$145K	$220K	$356K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$145K	$220K	$356K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$145K	$220K	$356K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$145K	$220K	$356K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$145K	$220K	$356K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$145K	$220K	$356K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$145K	$220K	$356K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$145K	$220K	$356K	85	4.9%
San Antonio, TX	$144K	$219K	$353K	87	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$143K	$217K	$351K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$143K	$217K	$351K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$143K	$217K	$351K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$143K	$217K	$351K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$143K	$217K	$351K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$143K	$217K	$351K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$143K	$217K	$351K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$143K	$217K	$351K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$143K	$217K	$351K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$143K	$217K	$351K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$143K	$217K	$351K	82	4.82%
Buffalo, NY	$143K	$216K	$350K	88	6.85%
Louisville, KY	$143K	$216K	$350K	85	5%
Omaha, NE	$143K	$216K	$350K	88	5.84%
Killeen, TX	$142K	$215K	$347K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$142K	$215K	$347K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$142K	$215K	$347K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$142K	$215K	$347K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$142K	$215K	$347K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$142K	$215K	$347K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$142K	$215K	$347K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$142K	$215K	$347K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$142K	$215K	$347K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$142K	$215K	$347K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$142K	$215K	$347K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$142K	$215K	$347K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$142K	$215K	$347K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$140K	$213K	$344K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$140K	$213K	$344K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$140K	$213K	$344K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$140K	$213K	$344K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$140K	$213K	$344K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$140K	$213K	$344K	78	6.5%
Spokane, WA	$140K	$212K	$342K	95	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$140K	$212K	$342K	82	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$140K	$212K	$342K	90	4.25%
New Orleans, LA	$140K	$212K	$342K	92	6%
Brownsville, TX	$138K	$210K	$339K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$138K	$210K	$339K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$138K	$210K	$339K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$136K	$207K	$334K	84	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$136K	$207K	$334K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$136K	$207K	$334K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$136K	$207K	$334K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$136K	$207K	$334K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$136K	$207K	$334K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$136K	$207K	$334K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$136K	$207K	$334K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$136K	$207K	$334K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$136K	$207K	$334K	88	5.9%
Tulsa, OK	$133K	$202K	$327K	80	4.75%
El Paso, TX	$132K	$200K	$323K	82	None ✓
Wichita, KS	$132K	$200K	$323K	82	5.7%
Lubbock, TX	$127K	$193K	$312K	78	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$127K	$193K	$312K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$121K	$183K	$296K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $235K Chief Executive Officer salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Chief Executive Officer Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Chief Executive Officer is $235,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $155,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $380,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Chief Executive Officers nationally earn $620,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's; MBA; 20+ years leadership experience. This role is 25% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Chief Executive Officer compensation is growing at 3.2% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Chief Executive Officer salary FAQ

How much does a Chief Executive Officer make?

The median Chief Executive Officer salary in the US is $235,000 per year — about $113/hour. Most earn between $155,000 (25th percentile) and $380,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Chief Executive Officer?

Entry-level Chief Executive Officer positions typically start around $155,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Chief Executive Officers earn?

The top 10% of Chief Executive Officers earn $620,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Chief Executive Officers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Chief Executive Officer salary at $353K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Chief Executive Officer salaries going up?

Yes — Chief Executive Officer pay is growing about 3.2% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Chief Executive Officer Salaryby City (2026)