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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | $290K | $439K | $711K | 187 | 6.85% |
| Cambridge, MA | $287K | $435K | $703K | 185 | 5% |
| Pearl City, HI | $287K | $435K | $703K | 185 | 11% |
| Bellevue, WA | $271K | $411K | $665K | 175 | None ✓ |
| Irvine, CA | $267K | $404K | $654K | 172 | 9.3% |
| Yonkers, NY | $256K | $388K | $627K | 165 | 6.85% |
| Bethesda, MD | $256K | $388K | $627K | 165 | 5.75% |
| Kirkland, WA | $251K | $381K | $616K | 162 | None ✓ |
| Stamford, CT | $245K | $371K | $600K | 158 | 6.99% |
| Hilo, HI | $240K | $364K | $589K | 155 | 11% |
| San Francisco, CA | $233K | $353K | $570K | 224 | 9.3% |
| Santa Ana, CA | $233K | $353K | $570K | 150 | 9.3% |
| Anaheim, CA | $229K | $348K | $562K | 148 | 9.3% |
| Rockville, MD | $229K | $348K | $562K | 148 | 5.75% |
| San Jose, CA | $225K | $341K | $551K | 210 | 9.3% |
| Alexandria, VA | $225K | $341K | $551K | 145 | 5.75% |
| Elizabeth, NJ | $225K | $341K | $551K | 145 | 10.75% |
| Paterson, NJ | $217K | $329K | $532K | 140 | 10.75% |
| Oakland, CA | $214K | $324K | $524K | 185 | 9.3% |
| Chula Vista, CA | $214K | $324K | $524K | 138 | 9.3% |
| Washington, DC | $214K | $324K | $524K | 152 | 8.5% |
| Edison, NJ | $214K | $324K | $524K | 138 | 10.75% |
| Fairbanks, AK | $214K | $324K | $524K | 138 | None ✓ |
| Jersey City, NJ | $209K | $317K | $513K | 162 | 10.75% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $202K | $306K | $494K | 163 | 9.3% |
| Seattle, WA | $202K | $306K | $494K | 150 | None ✓ |
| Boston, MA | $202K | $306K | $494K | 162 | 5% |
| Arlington, VA | $202K | $306K | $494K | 148 | 5.75% |
| Newark, NJ | $198K | $301K | $486K | 155 | 10.75% |
| San Diego, CA | $194K | $294K | $475K | 148 | 9.3% |
| Long Beach, CA | $189K | $287K | $464K | 155 | 9.3% |
| New Haven, CT | $189K | $287K | $464K | 122 | 6.99% |
| Nashua, NH | $186K | $282K | $456K | 120 | None ✓ |
| Frisco, TX | $183K | $277K | $448K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Sacramento, CA | $183K | $277K | $448K | 128 | 9.3% |
| Riverside, CA | $183K | $277K | $448K | 118 | 9.3% |
| Naperville, IL | $183K | $277K | $448K | 118 | 4.95% |
| Vancouver, WA | $183K | $277K | $448K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Lowell, MA | $183K | $277K | $448K | 118 | 5% |
| Portland, OR | $183K | $277K | $448K | 130 | 9.9% |
| Gresham, OR | $183K | $277K | $448K | 118 | 9.9% |
| Bridgeport, CT | $183K | $277K | $448K | 118 | 6.99% |
| Manchester, NH | $183K | $277K | $448K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Burlington, VT | $183K | $277K | $448K | 118 | 6.6% |
| Providence, RI | $183K | $277K | $448K | 118 | 5.99% |
| Austin, TX | $178K | $270K | $437K | 110 | None ✓ |
| Hialeah, FL | $178K | $270K | $437K | 115 | None ✓ |
| Hollywood, FL | $178K | $270K | $437K | 115 | 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% |
| Lakewood, CO | $178K | $270K | $437K | 115 | 4.55% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $178K | $270K | $437K | 115 | 4.25% |
| Frederick, MD | $178K | $270K | $437K | 115 | 5.75% |
| Portland, ME | $178K | $270K | $437K | 115 | 7.15% |
| Concord, NH | $178K | $270K | $437K | 115 | None ✓ |
| Warwick, RI | $178K | $270K | $437K | 115 | 5.99% |
| Miami, FL | $174K | $263K | $426K | 123 | None ✓ |
| Pembroke Pines, FL | $174K | $263K | $426K | 112 | None ✓ |
| Tacoma, WA | $174K | $263K | $426K | 128 | None ✓ |
| Fort Collins, CO | $174K | $263K | $426K | 112 | 4.55% |
| Worcester, MA | $174K | $263K | $426K | 120 | 5% |
| Cary, NC | $174K | $263K | $426K | 112 | 4.75% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $174K | $263K | $426K | 110 | 3.07% |
| Baltimore, MD | $174K | $263K | $426K | 115 | 5.75% |
| Honolulu, HI | $174K | $263K | $426K | 192 | 11% |
| 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% |
| Eugene, OR | $171K | $259K | $418K | 110 | 9.9% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $171K | $259K | $418K | 105 | 4.85% |
| Hartford, CT | $171K | $259K | $418K | 118 | 6.99% |
| McKinney, TX | $167K | $254K | $410K | 108 | None ✓ |
| Round Rock, TX | $167K | $254K | $410K | 108 | None ✓ |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $167K | $254K | $410K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Gilbert, AZ | $167K | $254K | $410K | 108 | 2.5% |
| Tempe, AZ | $167K | $254K | $410K | 108 | 2.5% |
| Aurora, CO | $167K | $254K | $410K | 112 | 4.55% |
| Thornton, CO | $167K | $254K | $410K | 108 | 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% |
| Boise, ID | $167K | $254K | $410K | 108 | 5.8% |
| Wilmington, DE | $167K | $254K | $410K | 108 | 6.6% |
| Anchorage, AK | $167K | $254K | $410K | 128 | None ✓ |
| Irving, TX | $163K | $247K | $399K | 97 | None ✓ |
| Stockton, CA | $163K | $247K | $399K | 105 | 9.3% |
| Tampa, FL | $163K | $247K | $399K | 102 | None ✓ |
| Phoenix, AZ | $163K | $247K | $399K | 100 | 2.5% |
| Chandler, AZ | $163K | $247K | $399K | 105 | 2.5% |
| Springfield, MA | $163K | $247K | $399K | 105 | 5% |
| Charlotte, NC | $163K | $247K | $399K | 100 | 4.75% |
| Nashville, TN | $163K | $247K | $399K | 102 | None ✓ |
| Salem, OR | $163K | $247K | $399K | 105 | 9.9% |
| Henderson, NV | $163K | $247K | $399K | 105 | None ✓ |
| Provo, UT | $163K | $247K | $399K | 100 | 4.85% |
| Meridian, ID | $163K | $247K | $399K | 105 | 5.8% |
| Houston, TX | $161K | $244K | $395K | 91 | None ✓ |
| Fort Worth, TX | $158K | $240K | $388K | 93 | None ✓ |
| Carrollton, TX | $158K | $240K | $388K | 102 | None ✓ |
| Orlando, FL | $158K | $240K | $388K | 100 | None ✓ |
| Reno, NV | $158K | $240K | $388K | 108 | None ✓ |
| Missoula, MT | $158K | $240K | $388K | 102 | 6.75% |
| Arlington, TX | $155K | $235K | $380K | 94 | None ✓ |
| Garland, TX | $155K | $235K | $380K | 91 | None ✓ |
| Denton, TX | $155K | $235K | $380K | 100 | None ✓ |
| San Bernardino, CA | $155K | $235K | $380K | 100 | 9.3% |
| St. Petersburg, FL | $155K | $235K | $380K | 105 | None ✓ |
| Cape Coral, FL | $155K | $235K | $380K | 100 | None ✓ |
| Mesa, AZ | $155K | $235K | $380K | 98 | 2.5% |
| Peoria, AZ | $155K | $235K | $380K | 100 | 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% |
| Rochester, MN | $155K | $235K | $380K | 100 | 6.8% |
| Las Vegas, NV | $155K | $235K | $380K | 102 | None ✓ |
| West Jordan, UT | $155K | $235K | $380K | 100 | 4.85% |
| Charleston, SC | $155K | $235K | $380K | 105 | 6.5% |
| Overland Park, KS | $155K | $235K | $380K | 100 | 5.7% |
| Dover, DE | $155K | $235K | $380K | 100 | 6.6% |
| Albany, NY | $152K | $230K | $372K | 98 | 6.85% |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $152K | $230K | $372K | 98 | None ✓ |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $152K | $230K | $372K | 98 | 5.75% |
| Chesapeake, 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% |
| North Las Vegas, NV | $152K | $230K | $372K | 98 | None ✓ |
| West Valley City, UT | $152K | $230K | $372K | 98 | 4.85% |
| Orem, UT | $152K | $230K | $372K | 98 | 4.85% |
| Nampa, ID | $152K | $230K | $372K | 98 | 5.8% |
| Billings, MT | $152K | $230K | $372K | 98 | 6.75% |
| Lewiston, ME | $152K | $230K | $372K | 98 | 7.15% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $149K | $226K | $365K | 102 | 4.55% |
| 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% |
| Huntsville, AL | $149K | $226K | $365K | 88 | 5% |
| Fresno, CA | $147K | $223K | $361K | 102 | 9.3% |
| Bakersfield, CA | $147K | $223K | $361K | 95 | 9.3% |
| Rochester, NY | $147K | $223K | $361K | 90 | 6.85% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $147K | $223K | $361K | 93 | None ✓ |
| Aurora, IL | $147K | $223K | $361K | 95 | 4.95% |
| Glendale, AZ | $147K | $223K | $361K | 95 | 2.5% |
| Norfolk, VA | $147K | $223K | $361K | 95 | 5.75% |
| Newport News, VA | $147K | $223K | $361K | 95 | 5.75% |
| Detroit, MI | $147K | $223K | $361K | 82 | 4.25% |
| Allentown, PA | $147K | $223K | $361K | 95 | 3.07% |
| North Charleston, SC | $147K | $223K | $361K | 95 | 6.5% |
| Des Moines, IA | $147K | $223K | $361K | 88 | 4.82% |
| San Antonio, TX | $144K | $219K | $353K | 87 | None ✓ |
| Midland, TX | $143K | $216K | $350K | 92 | None ✓ |
| Buffalo, NY | $143K | $216K | $350K | 88 | 6.85% |
| Athens, GA | $143K | $216K | $350K | 92 | 5.75% |
| Duluth, MN | $143K | $216K | $350K | 92 | 6.8% |
| Louisville, KY | $143K | $216K | $350K | 85 | 5% |
| Greenville, SC | $143K | $216K | $350K | 92 | 6.5% |
| Omaha, NE | $143K | $216K | $350K | 88 | 5.84% |
| Cheyenne, WY | $143K | $216K | $350K | 92 | None ✓ |
| Grand Prairie, TX | $140K | $212K | $342K | 90 | None ✓ |
| Tallahassee, FL | $140K | $212K | $342K | 90 | None ✓ |
| Joliet, IL | $140K | $212K | $342K | 90 | 4.95% |
| Spokane, WA | $140K | $212K | $342K | 95 | None ✓ |
| Cleveland, OH | $140K | $212K | $342K | 82 | 3.99% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $140K | $212K | $342K | 90 | 4.25% |
| Sterling Heights, MI | $140K | $212K | $342K | 90 | 4.25% |
| Kenosha, WI | $140K | $212K | $342K | 90 | 5.3% |
| New Orleans, LA | $140K | $212K | $342K | 92 | 6% |
| Fargo, ND | $140K | $212K | $342K | 90 | 2.5% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $136K | $207K | $334K | 84 | None ✓ |
| Pasadena, TX | $136K | $207K | $334K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Mesquite, TX | $136K | $207K | $334K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Syracuse, NY | $136K | $207K | $334K | 88 | 6.85% |
| Gainesville, FL | $136K | $207K | $334K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Tucson, AZ | $136K | $207K | $334K | 90 | 2.5% |
| Savannah, GA | $136K | $207K | $334K | 92 | 5.75% |
| Greensboro, NC | $136K | $207K | $334K | 88 | 4.75% |
| Memphis, TN | $136K | $207K | $334K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Knoxville, TN | $136K | $207K | $334K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Chattanooga, TN | $136K | $207K | $334K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Green Bay, WI | $136K | $207K | $334K | 88 | 5.3% |
| Lexington, KY | $136K | $207K | $334K | 88 | 5% |
| 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% |
| Great Falls, MT | $136K | $207K | $334K | 88 | 6.75% |
| Casper, WY | $136K | $207K | $334K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Bismarck, ND | $136K | $207K | $334K | 88 | 2.5% |
| Sioux Falls, SD | $136K | $207K | $334K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Rapid City, SD | $136K | $207K | $334K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Tulsa, OK | $133K | $202K | $327K | 80 | 4.75% |
| El Paso, TX | $132K | $200K | $323K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Beaumont, TX | $132K | $200K | $323K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Odessa, TX | $132K | $200K | $323K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Tyler, TX | $132K | $200K | $323K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $132K | $200K | $323K | 85 | 4.75% |
| Warren, MI | $132K | $200K | $323K | 85 | 4.25% |
| Lansing, MI | $132K | $200K | $323K | 85 | 4.25% |
| Independence, MO | $132K | $200K | $323K | 85 | 5.3% |
| Lafayette, LA | $132K | $200K | $323K | 85 | 6% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $132K | $200K | $323K | 85 | 4.82% |
| Wichita, KS | $132K | $200K | $323K | 82 | 5.7% |
| Kansas City, KS | $132K | $200K | $323K | 85 | 5.7% |
| Lincoln, NE | $132K | $200K | $323K | 85 | 5.84% |
| Rio Rancho, NM | $132K | $200K | $323K | 85 | 5.9% |
| Fayetteville, AR | $132K | $200K | $323K | 85 | 4.9% |
| Lubbock, TX | $127K | $193K | $312K | 78 | None ✓ |
| Amarillo, TX | $127K | $193K | $312K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Waco, TX | $127K | $193K | $312K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Pueblo, CO | $127K | $193K | $312K | 82 | 4.55% |
| Columbus, GA | $127K | $193K | $312K | 82 | 5.75% |
| Augusta, GA | $127K | $193K | $312K | 82 | 5.75% |
| Fayetteville, NC | $127K | $193K | $312K | 82 | 4.75% |
| Clarksville, TN | $127K | $193K | $312K | 82 | None ✓ |
| South Bend, IN | $127K | $193K | $312K | 82 | 3.23% |
| Mobile, AL | $127K | $193K | $312K | 82 | 5% |
| Broken Arrow, OK | $127K | $193K | $312K | 82 | 4.75% |
| Davenport, IA | $127K | $193K | $312K | 82 | 4.82% |
| Little Rock, AR | $127K | $193K | $312K | 82 | 4.9% |
| Killeen, TX | $124K | $188K | $304K | 80 | None ✓ |
| Rockford, IL | $124K | $188K | $304K | 80 | 4.95% |
| Macon, GA | $124K | $188K | $304K | 80 | 5.75% |
| Akron, OH | $124K | $188K | $304K | 80 | 3.99% |
| Dayton, OH | $124K | $188K | $304K | 80 | 3.99% |
| Erie, PA | $124K | $188K | $304K | 80 | 3.07% |
| Springfield, MO | $124K | $188K | $304K | 80 | 5.3% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $124K | $188K | $304K | 80 | 3.23% |
| Bowling Green, KY | $124K | $188K | $304K | 80 | 5% |
| Montgomery, AL | $124K | $188K | $304K | 80 | 5% |
| Norman, OK | $124K | $188K | $304K | 80 | 4.75% |
| Las Cruces, NM | $124K | $188K | $304K | 80 | 5.9% |
| Gulfport, MS | $124K | $188K | $304K | 80 | 5% |
| Laredo, TX | $121K | $183K | $296K | 76 | None ✓ |
| Abilene, TX | $121K | $183K | $296K | 78 | None ✓ |
| Toledo, OH | $121K | $183K | $296K | 78 | 3.99% |
| Evansville, IN | $121K | $183K | $296K | 78 | 3.23% |
| Shreveport, LA | $121K | $183K | $296K | 78 | 6% |
| Jackson, MS | $121K | $183K | $296K | 78 | 5% |
| Charleston, WV | $121K | $183K | $296K | 78 | 6.5% |
| Brownsville, TX | $116K | $176K | $285K | 75 | None ✓ |
| Fort Smith, AR | $116K | $176K | $285K | 75 | 4.9% |
| Huntington, WV | $116K | $176K | $285K | 75 | 6.5% |
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.