Business40% remote-eligible+3% YoY growth
Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) Salary
by City (2026)
C-suite executive responsible for human capital strategy and organizational culture. National median: $278K/year. See how your city compares.
National median
$278K
Top 10% earn
$468K
Entry level
$210K
Salary growth
+3%/yr
Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) salary by city
Sorted by median salary| City | Entry | Median | Senior | COL | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | $393K | $520K | $677K | 187 | 6.85% |
| Cambridge, MA | $389K | $514K | $670K | 185 | 5% |
| Pearl City, HI | $389K | $514K | $670K | 185 | 11% |
| Bellevue, WA | $368K | $487K | $634K | 175 | None ✓ |
| Irvine, CA | $361K | $478K | $623K | 172 | 9.3% |
| Yonkers, NY | $347K | $459K | $597K | 165 | 6.85% |
| Bethesda, MD | $347K | $459K | $597K | 165 | 5.75% |
| Kirkland, WA | $340K | $450K | $586K | 162 | None ✓ |
| Stamford, CT | $332K | $439K | $572K | 158 | 6.99% |
| Hilo, HI | $326K | $431K | $561K | 155 | 11% |
| San Francisco, CA | $315K | $417K | $543K | 224 | 9.3% |
| Santa Ana, CA | $315K | $417K | $543K | 150 | 9.3% |
| Anaheim, CA | $311K | $411K | $536K | 148 | 9.3% |
| Rockville, MD | $311K | $411K | $536K | 148 | 5.75% |
| San Jose, CA | $305K | $403K | $525K | 210 | 9.3% |
| Alexandria, VA | $305K | $403K | $525K | 145 | 5.75% |
| Elizabeth, NJ | $305K | $403K | $525K | 145 | 10.75% |
| Paterson, NJ | $294K | $389K | $507K | 140 | 10.75% |
| Oakland, CA | $290K | $384K | $500K | 185 | 9.3% |
| Chula Vista, CA | $290K | $384K | $500K | 138 | 9.3% |
| Washington, DC | $290K | $384K | $500K | 152 | 8.5% |
| Edison, NJ | $290K | $384K | $500K | 138 | 10.75% |
| Fairbanks, AK | $290K | $384K | $500K | 138 | None ✓ |
| Jersey City, NJ | $284K | $375K | $489K | 162 | 10.75% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $273K | $361K | $471K | 163 | 9.3% |
| Seattle, WA | $273K | $361K | $471K | 150 | None ✓ |
| Boston, MA | $273K | $361K | $471K | 162 | 5% |
| Arlington, VA | $273K | $361K | $471K | 148 | 5.75% |
| Newark, NJ | $269K | $356K | $463K | 155 | 10.75% |
| San Diego, CA | $263K | $348K | $453K | 148 | 9.3% |
| Long Beach, CA | $256K | $339K | $442K | 155 | 9.3% |
| New Haven, CT | $256K | $339K | $442K | 122 | 6.99% |
| Nashua, NH | $252K | $334K | $434K | 120 | None ✓ |
| Frisco, TX | $248K | $328K | $427K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Sacramento, CA | $248K | $328K | $427K | 128 | 9.3% |
| Riverside, CA | $248K | $328K | $427K | 118 | 9.3% |
| Naperville, IL | $248K | $328K | $427K | 118 | 4.95% |
| Vancouver, WA | $248K | $328K | $427K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Lowell, MA | $248K | $328K | $427K | 118 | 5% |
| Portland, OR | $248K | $328K | $427K | 130 | 9.9% |
| Gresham, OR | $248K | $328K | $427K | 118 | 9.9% |
| Bridgeport, CT | $248K | $328K | $427K | 118 | 6.99% |
| Manchester, NH | $248K | $328K | $427K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Burlington, VT | $248K | $328K | $427K | 118 | 6.6% |
| Providence, RI | $248K | $328K | $427K | 118 | 5.99% |
| Austin, TX | $241K | $320K | $416K | 110 | None ✓ |
| Hialeah, FL | $241K | $320K | $416K | 115 | None ✓ |
| Hollywood, FL | $241K | $320K | $416K | 115 | None ✓ |
| Chicago, IL | $241K | $320K | $416K | 107 | 4.95% |
| Scottsdale, AZ | $241K | $320K | $416K | 118 | 2.5% |
| Denver, CO | $241K | $320K | $416K | 118 | 4.55% |
| Lakewood, CO | $241K | $320K | $416K | 115 | 4.55% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $241K | $320K | $416K | 115 | 4.25% |
| Frederick, MD | $241K | $320K | $416K | 115 | 5.75% |
| Portland, ME | $241K | $320K | $416K | 115 | 7.15% |
| Concord, NH | $241K | $320K | $416K | 115 | None ✓ |
| Warwick, RI | $241K | $320K | $416K | 115 | 5.99% |
| Miami, FL | $235K | $311K | $405K | 123 | None ✓ |
| Pembroke Pines, FL | $235K | $311K | $405K | 112 | None ✓ |
| Tacoma, WA | $235K | $311K | $405K | 128 | None ✓ |
| Fort Collins, CO | $235K | $311K | $405K | 112 | 4.55% |
| Worcester, MA | $235K | $311K | $405K | 120 | 5% |
| Cary, NC | $235K | $311K | $405K | 112 | 4.75% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $235K | $311K | $405K | 110 | 3.07% |
| Baltimore, MD | $235K | $311K | $405K | 115 | 5.75% |
| Honolulu, HI | $235K | $311K | $405K | 192 | 11% |
| Dallas, TX | $231K | $306K | $398K | 96 | None ✓ |
| Plano, TX | $231K | $306K | $398K | 105 | None ✓ |
| Atlanta, GA | $231K | $306K | $398K | 99 | 5.75% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $231K | $306K | $398K | 106 | 6.8% |
| Eugene, OR | $231K | $306K | $398K | 110 | 9.9% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $231K | $306K | $398K | 105 | 4.85% |
| Hartford, CT | $231K | $306K | $398K | 118 | 6.99% |
| McKinney, TX | $227K | $300K | $391K | 108 | None ✓ |
| Round Rock, TX | $227K | $300K | $391K | 108 | None ✓ |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $227K | $300K | $391K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Gilbert, AZ | $227K | $300K | $391K | 108 | 2.5% |
| Tempe, AZ | $227K | $300K | $391K | 108 | 2.5% |
| Aurora, CO | $227K | $300K | $391K | 112 | 4.55% |
| Thornton, CO | $227K | $300K | $391K | 108 | 4.55% |
| Raleigh, NC | $227K | $300K | $391K | 102 | 4.75% |
| Durham, NC | $227K | $300K | $391K | 100 | 4.75% |
| St. Paul, MN | $227K | $300K | $391K | 104 | 6.8% |
| Boise, ID | $227K | $300K | $391K | 108 | 5.8% |
| Wilmington, DE | $227K | $300K | $391K | 108 | 6.6% |
| Anchorage, AK | $227K | $300K | $391K | 128 | None ✓ |
| Irving, TX | $221K | $292K | $380K | 97 | None ✓ |
| Stockton, CA | $221K | $292K | $380K | 105 | 9.3% |
| Tampa, FL | $221K | $292K | $380K | 102 | None ✓ |
| Phoenix, AZ | $221K | $292K | $380K | 100 | 2.5% |
| Chandler, AZ | $221K | $292K | $380K | 105 | 2.5% |
| Springfield, MA | $221K | $292K | $380K | 105 | 5% |
| Charlotte, NC | $221K | $292K | $380K | 100 | 4.75% |
| Nashville, TN | $221K | $292K | $380K | 102 | None ✓ |
| Salem, OR | $221K | $292K | $380K | 105 | 9.9% |
| Henderson, NV | $221K | $292K | $380K | 105 | None ✓ |
| Provo, UT | $221K | $292K | $380K | 100 | 4.85% |
| Meridian, ID | $221K | $292K | $380K | 105 | 5.8% |
| Houston, TX | $218K | $289K | $376K | 91 | None ✓ |
| Fort Worth, TX | $214K | $284K | $369K | 93 | None ✓ |
| Carrollton, TX | $214K | $284K | $369K | 102 | None ✓ |
| Orlando, FL | $214K | $284K | $369K | 100 | None ✓ |
| Reno, NV | $214K | $284K | $369K | 108 | None ✓ |
| Missoula, MT | $214K | $284K | $369K | 102 | 6.75% |
| Arlington, TX | $210K | $278K | $362K | 94 | None ✓ |
| Garland, TX | $210K | $278K | $362K | 91 | None ✓ |
| Denton, TX | $210K | $278K | $362K | 100 | None ✓ |
| San Bernardino, CA | $210K | $278K | $362K | 100 | 9.3% |
| St. Petersburg, FL | $210K | $278K | $362K | 105 | None ✓ |
| Cape Coral, FL | $210K | $278K | $362K | 100 | None ✓ |
| Mesa, AZ | $210K | $278K | $362K | 98 | 2.5% |
| Peoria, AZ | $210K | $278K | $362K | 100 | 2.5% |
| Richmond, VA | $210K | $278K | $362K | 98 | 5.75% |
| Columbus, OH | $210K | $278K | $362K | 90 | 3.99% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $210K | $278K | $362K | 90 | 3.07% |
| Rochester, MN | $210K | $278K | $362K | 100 | 6.8% |
| Las Vegas, NV | $210K | $278K | $362K | 102 | None ✓ |
| West Jordan, UT | $210K | $278K | $362K | 100 | 4.85% |
| Charleston, SC | $210K | $278K | $362K | 105 | 6.5% |
| Overland Park, KS | $210K | $278K | $362K | 100 | 5.7% |
| Dover, DE | $210K | $278K | $362K | 100 | 6.6% |
| Albany, NY | $206K | $272K | $355K | 98 | 6.85% |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $206K | $272K | $355K | 98 | None ✓ |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $206K | $272K | $355K | 98 | 5.75% |
| Chesapeake, VA | $206K | $272K | $355K | 98 | 5.75% |
| Cincinnati, OH | $206K | $272K | $355K | 88 | 3.99% |
| Kansas City, MO | $206K | $272K | $355K | 90 | 5.3% |
| Madison, WI | $206K | $272K | $355K | 102 | 5.3% |
| North Las Vegas, NV | $206K | $272K | $355K | 98 | None ✓ |
| West Valley City, UT | $206K | $272K | $355K | 98 | 4.85% |
| Orem, UT | $206K | $272K | $355K | 98 | 4.85% |
| Nampa, ID | $206K | $272K | $355K | 98 | 5.8% |
| Billings, MT | $206K | $272K | $355K | 98 | 6.75% |
| Lewiston, ME | $206K | $272K | $355K | 98 | 7.15% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $202K | $267K | $348K | 102 | 4.55% |
| St. Louis, MO | $202K | $267K | $348K | 86 | 5.3% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $202K | $267K | $348K | 88 | 3.23% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $202K | $267K | $348K | 90 | 5.3% |
| Huntsville, AL | $202K | $267K | $348K | 88 | 5% |
| Fresno, CA | $200K | $264K | $344K | 102 | 9.3% |
| Bakersfield, CA | $200K | $264K | $344K | 95 | 9.3% |
| Rochester, NY | $200K | $264K | $344K | 90 | 6.85% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $200K | $264K | $344K | 93 | None ✓ |
| Aurora, IL | $200K | $264K | $344K | 95 | 4.95% |
| Glendale, AZ | $200K | $264K | $344K | 95 | 2.5% |
| Norfolk, VA | $200K | $264K | $344K | 95 | 5.75% |
| Newport News, VA | $200K | $264K | $344K | 95 | 5.75% |
| Detroit, MI | $200K | $264K | $344K | 82 | 4.25% |
| Allentown, PA | $200K | $264K | $344K | 95 | 3.07% |
| North Charleston, SC | $200K | $264K | $344K | 95 | 6.5% |
| Des Moines, IA | $200K | $264K | $344K | 88 | 4.82% |
| San Antonio, TX | $195K | $259K | $337K | 87 | None ✓ |
| Midland, TX | $193K | $256K | $333K | 92 | None ✓ |
| Buffalo, NY | $193K | $256K | $333K | 88 | 6.85% |
| Athens, GA | $193K | $256K | $333K | 92 | 5.75% |
| Duluth, MN | $193K | $256K | $333K | 92 | 6.8% |
| Louisville, KY | $193K | $256K | $333K | 85 | 5% |
| Greenville, SC | $193K | $256K | $333K | 92 | 6.5% |
| Omaha, NE | $193K | $256K | $333K | 88 | 5.84% |
| Cheyenne, WY | $193K | $256K | $333K | 92 | None ✓ |
| Grand Prairie, TX | $189K | $250K | $326K | 90 | None ✓ |
| Tallahassee, FL | $189K | $250K | $326K | 90 | None ✓ |
| Joliet, IL | $189K | $250K | $326K | 90 | 4.95% |
| Spokane, WA | $189K | $250K | $326K | 95 | None ✓ |
| Cleveland, OH | $189K | $250K | $326K | 82 | 3.99% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $189K | $250K | $326K | 90 | 4.25% |
| Sterling Heights, MI | $189K | $250K | $326K | 90 | 4.25% |
| Kenosha, WI | $189K | $250K | $326K | 90 | 5.3% |
| New Orleans, LA | $189K | $250K | $326K | 92 | 6% |
| Fargo, ND | $189K | $250K | $326K | 90 | 2.5% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $185K | $245K | $319K | 84 | None ✓ |
| Pasadena, TX | $185K | $245K | $319K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Mesquite, TX | $185K | $245K | $319K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Syracuse, NY | $185K | $245K | $319K | 88 | 6.85% |
| Gainesville, FL | $185K | $245K | $319K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Tucson, AZ | $185K | $245K | $319K | 90 | 2.5% |
| Savannah, GA | $185K | $245K | $319K | 92 | 5.75% |
| Greensboro, NC | $185K | $245K | $319K | 88 | 4.75% |
| Memphis, TN | $185K | $245K | $319K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Knoxville, TN | $185K | $245K | $319K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Chattanooga, TN | $185K | $245K | $319K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Green Bay, WI | $185K | $245K | $319K | 88 | 5.3% |
| Lexington, KY | $185K | $245K | $319K | 88 | 5% |
| Birmingham, AL | $185K | $245K | $319K | 82 | 5% |
| Columbia, SC | $185K | $245K | $319K | 88 | 6.5% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $185K | $245K | $319K | 82 | 4.75% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $185K | $245K | $319K | 88 | 6% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $185K | $245K | $319K | 88 | 5.9% |
| Great Falls, MT | $185K | $245K | $319K | 88 | 6.75% |
| Casper, WY | $185K | $245K | $319K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Bismarck, ND | $185K | $245K | $319K | 88 | 2.5% |
| Sioux Falls, SD | $185K | $245K | $319K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Rapid City, SD | $185K | $245K | $319K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Tulsa, OK | $181K | $239K | $311K | 80 | 4.75% |
| El Paso, TX | $179K | $236K | $308K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Beaumont, TX | $179K | $236K | $308K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Odessa, TX | $179K | $236K | $308K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Tyler, TX | $179K | $236K | $308K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $179K | $236K | $308K | 85 | 4.75% |
| Warren, MI | $179K | $236K | $308K | 85 | 4.25% |
| Lansing, MI | $179K | $236K | $308K | 85 | 4.25% |
| Independence, MO | $179K | $236K | $308K | 85 | 5.3% |
| Lafayette, LA | $179K | $236K | $308K | 85 | 6% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $179K | $236K | $308K | 85 | 4.82% |
| Wichita, KS | $179K | $236K | $308K | 82 | 5.7% |
| Kansas City, KS | $179K | $236K | $308K | 85 | 5.7% |
| Lincoln, NE | $179K | $236K | $308K | 85 | 5.84% |
| Rio Rancho, NM | $179K | $236K | $308K | 85 | 5.9% |
| Fayetteville, AR | $179K | $236K | $308K | 85 | 4.9% |
| Lubbock, TX | $172K | $228K | $297K | 78 | None ✓ |
| Amarillo, TX | $172K | $228K | $297K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Waco, TX | $172K | $228K | $297K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Pueblo, CO | $172K | $228K | $297K | 82 | 4.55% |
| Columbus, GA | $172K | $228K | $297K | 82 | 5.75% |
| Augusta, GA | $172K | $228K | $297K | 82 | 5.75% |
| Fayetteville, NC | $172K | $228K | $297K | 82 | 4.75% |
| Clarksville, TN | $172K | $228K | $297K | 82 | None ✓ |
| South Bend, IN | $172K | $228K | $297K | 82 | 3.23% |
| Mobile, AL | $172K | $228K | $297K | 82 | 5% |
| Broken Arrow, OK | $172K | $228K | $297K | 82 | 4.75% |
| Davenport, IA | $172K | $228K | $297K | 82 | 4.82% |
| Little Rock, AR | $172K | $228K | $297K | 82 | 4.9% |
| Killeen, TX | $168K | $222K | $290K | 80 | None ✓ |
| Rockford, IL | $168K | $222K | $290K | 80 | 4.95% |
| Macon, GA | $168K | $222K | $290K | 80 | 5.75% |
| Akron, OH | $168K | $222K | $290K | 80 | 3.99% |
| Dayton, OH | $168K | $222K | $290K | 80 | 3.99% |
| Erie, PA | $168K | $222K | $290K | 80 | 3.07% |
| Springfield, MO | $168K | $222K | $290K | 80 | 5.3% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $168K | $222K | $290K | 80 | 3.23% |
| Bowling Green, KY | $168K | $222K | $290K | 80 | 5% |
| Montgomery, AL | $168K | $222K | $290K | 80 | 5% |
| Norman, OK | $168K | $222K | $290K | 80 | 4.75% |
| Las Cruces, NM | $168K | $222K | $290K | 80 | 5.9% |
| Gulfport, MS | $168K | $222K | $290K | 80 | 5% |
| Laredo, TX | $164K | $217K | $282K | 76 | None ✓ |
| Abilene, TX | $164K | $217K | $282K | 78 | None ✓ |
| Toledo, OH | $164K | $217K | $282K | 78 | 3.99% |
| Evansville, IN | $164K | $217K | $282K | 78 | 3.23% |
| Shreveport, LA | $164K | $217K | $282K | 78 | 6% |
| Jackson, MS | $164K | $217K | $282K | 78 | 5% |
| Charleston, WV | $164K | $217K | $282K | 78 | 6.5% |
| Brownsville, TX | $158K | $209K | $272K | 75 | None ✓ |
| Fort Smith, AR | $158K | $209K | $272K | 75 | 4.9% |
| Huntington, WV | $158K | $209K | $272K | 75 | 6.5% |
COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?
A $278K Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) 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 Human Resources Officer (CHRO) Salary Guide (2026)
The national median salary for a Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) is $278,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $210,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $362,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)s nationally earn $468,000+.
Education and requirements
Bachelor's in HR or Business; MBA; SHRM-SCP; 20+ years. This role is 40% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.
Salary growth outlook
Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) compensation is growing at 3% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.