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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
What does a Chief Executive actually earn in 2026? The national weighted average lands at $244,417 — but that single number is deceptively simple. Across the 288 cities in our database, median pay ranges from $174,300 to $445,200. The $171,092 gap between entry-level (P10) and senior (P90) pay tells you this career has real earning trajectory — if you're in the right place.
Chief Executive falls within the Leadership & Operations sector, specifically in Management. The typical education path involves Bachelor's or MBA. The career outlook? Steady. Work style is executive leadership — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
$270,900 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Chief Executive in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $445,200 — $270,900 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($174,300). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The three-tier salary picture for Chief Executives in 2026: $175,980 at entry (P10), $244,417 at midpoint, and $347,072 at the senior end (P90). Stack the top-paying states against the cheapest — the math is revealing. The $171,092 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $164,050 above the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $415,800, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $175,700. The $240,100 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Chief Executive in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $445,200 — $270,900 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($174,300). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Chief Executive is $175,980, while senior-level (P90) earners average $347,072. That $171,092 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Chief Executives at $294,998 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $259,350) is $35,648.
At the 90th percentile, Chief Executives pull in an average of $347,072. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $175,980 | $244,417 | $347,072 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £102,002 | £141,670 | £201,171 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$136,780 | CA$189,972 | CA$269,760 |
| Australia | 13 | A$163,712 | A$227,377 | A$322,876 |
| Sweden | 24 | 934,229 kr | 1,297,541 kr | 1,842,508 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $212,399 | $294,998 | $418,898 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $205,254 | $285,075 | $404,807 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $204,120 | $283,500 | $402,570 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $189,000 | $262,500 | $372,750 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $186,732 | $259,350 | $368,277 |
| Washington | 8 | $183,141 | $254,363 | $361,195 |
| New York | 5 | $172,368 | $239,400 | $339,948 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $172,368 | $239,400 | $339,948 |
| Florida | 22 | $171,062 | $237,586 | $337,373 |
| Colorado | 11 | $168,107 | $233,482 | $331,544 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $167,832 | $233,100 | $331,002 |
| Nevada | 5 | $167,530 | $232,680 | $330,406 |
| Arizona | 12 | $166,698 | $231,525 | $328,766 |
| Oregon | 5 | $166,320 | $231,000 | $328,020 |
| Idaho | 3 | $165,816 | $230,300 | $327,026 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $164,506 | $228,480 | $324,442 |
| Utah | 4 | $164,052 | $227,850 | $323,547 |
| Virginia | 7 | $161,352 | $224,100 | $318,222 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $159,264 | $221,200 | $314,104 |
| Alaska | 1 | $158,760 | $220,500 | $313,110 |
| Illinois | 5 | $156,946 | $217,980 | $309,532 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $153,048 | $212,567 | $301,845 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $151,200 | $210,000 | $298,200 |
| Montana | 1 | $151,200 | $210,000 | $298,200 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $150,696 | $209,300 | $297,206 |
| Texas | 40 | $149,953 | $208,268 | $295,740 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $149,688 | $207,900 | $295,218 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $148,932 | $206,850 | $293,727 |
| Georgia | 6 | $148,428 | $206,150 | $292,733 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $148,176 | $205,800 | $292,236 |
| Kansas | 4 | $147,420 | $204,750 | $290,745 |
| Michigan | 6 | $146,916 | $204,050 | $289,751 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $145,152 | $201,600 | $286,272 |
| Maryland | 1 | $145,152 | $201,600 | $286,272 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $143,640 | $199,500 | $283,290 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $143,640 | $199,500 | $283,290 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $139,860 | $194,250 | $275,835 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $139,104 | $193,200 | $274,344 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $137,214 | $190,575 | $270,617 |
| Missouri | 4 | $137,214 | $190,575 | $270,617 |
| Alabama | 5 | $136,685 | $189,840 | $269,573 |
| Indiana | 3 | $134,568 | $186,900 | $265,398 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $134,568 | $186,900 | $265,398 |
| Iowa | 2 | $133,056 | $184,800 | $262,416 |
| Ohio | 6 | $132,804 | $184,450 | $261,919 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $127,008 | $176,400 | $250,488 |
Geography shapes Chief Executive pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $294,998 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($445,200 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $210,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $445,200 | 212 | $210,000 | $225,736 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $415,800 | 198 | $210,000 | $212,785 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $386,400 | 184 | $210,000 | $199,834 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $380,100 | 181 | $210,000 | $197,059 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $373,800 | 178 | $210,000 | $194,284 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $371,700 | 177 | $210,000 | $193,359 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $371,700 | 177 | $210,000 | $193,359 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $363,300 | 173 | $210,000 | $189,659 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $363,300 | 173 | $210,000 | $189,659 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $354,900 | 169 | $210,000 | $185,959 |
From a career planning perspective, Chief Executive offers a $171,092 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires Bachelor's or MBA. Day-to-day, expect executive leadership work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Chief Executives is $244,417 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $175,980, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $347,072.
The highest-paying city for Chief Executives is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $445,200. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($445,200), Santa Clara ($415,800), Irvine ($386,400). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Chief Executive salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $174,300. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Chief Executives (10th percentile) average $175,980 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $320,544. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Chief Executives average $347,072 nationally — $171,092 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Chief Executives can earn up to $632,184.
The top-paying states for Chief Executives are California ($294,998 median), Massachusetts ($285,075 median), Hawaii ($283,500 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Chief Executive involves Bachelor's or MBA. The field is in the Leadership & Operations sector (Management), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically executive leadership.
With a national median of $244,417 and representation across 288 metro areas, Chief Executive offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $171,092 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.