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Chief Executive (CEO) Salary by State (2026)
How much does a Chief Executive (CEO) make? The median Chief Executive (CEO) salary in the US is about $225,704 per year (roughly $109.00 an hour), across 152,570 jobs (Chief Executives). But pay swings widely by state — the median ranges from $119,990 in Arkansas to $341,630 in Oregon. Pick your state below for the full pay range and an estimated take-home after taxes.
Median Chief Executive (CEO) salary in every state
| State | Median salary | Jobs |
| Oregon | $341,630 | 910 |
| Washington | $339,810 | 3,170 |
| Illinois | $331,920 | 4,620 |
| North Carolina | $314,290 | 1,930 |
| Virginia | $310,740 | 4,870 |
| New Jersey | $310,440 | 2,430 |
| Connecticut | $295,120 | 1,660 |
| Hawaii | $281,640 | 470 |
| South Dakota | $280,900 | 510 |
| New York | $257,980 | 8,430 |
| Texas | $257,850 | 8,780 |
| Michigan | $255,560 | 4,950 |
| Indiana | $254,180 | 1,820 |
| Maryland | $248,660 | 3,180 |
| Rhode Island | $235,360 | 460 |
| Pennsylvania | $232,560 | 8,850 |
| California | $218,600 | 34,700 |
| Nebraska | $214,680 | 2,510 |
| Colorado | $213,370 | 0 |
| Iowa | $211,190 | 3,050 |
| Wisconsin | $208,350 | 0 |
| Georgia | $208,180 | 4,080 |
| Delaware | $199,990 | 390 |
| Tennessee | $198,830 | 4,700 |
| Minnesota | $195,670 | 6,740 |
| Montana | $182,340 | 670 |
| Kentucky | $179,530 | 2,070 |
| Idaho | $177,210 | 2,920 |
| Ohio | $176,440 | 4,470 |
| Vermont | $175,070 | 360 |
| Missouri | $172,320 | 2,550 |
| Utah | $171,880 | 3,140 |
| South Carolina | $168,840 | 1,740 |
| New Hampshire | $168,590 | 0 |
| Alaska | $166,710 | 640 |
| Alabama | $166,420 | 810 |
| North Dakota | $164,560 | 380 |
| Oklahoma | $163,790 | 2,390 |
| Kansas | $158,100 | 1,960 |
| West Virginia | $151,950 | 1,700 |
| Nevada | $149,770 | 1,370 |
| Wyoming | $147,940 | 60 |
| Mississippi | $139,250 | 310 |
| Maine | $138,770 | 1,580 |
| New Mexico | $123,500 | 100 |
| Arkansas | $119,990 | 3,550 |
| Massachusetts | — | 6,590 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Chief Executive (CEO) make?
- A Chief Executive (CEO) makes a median of about $225,704 per year in the US (roughly $109.00 per hour), according to the latest BLS data. Pay ranges from $119,990 in Arkansas to $341,630 in Oregon depending on the state.
- What is the average Chief Executive (CEO) salary in the US?
- The typical (employment-weighted median) Chief Executive (CEO) salary in the US is about $225,704 per year, based on the latest BLS data covering 152,570 jobs nationwide.
- Which state pays Chief Executive (CEO)s the most?
- Oregon has the highest median Chief Executive (CEO) salary at $341,630 per year. Remember that taxes and cost of living vary — a high gross salary can shrink after state taxes.
- Which state pays Chief Executive (CEO)s the least?
- Arkansas has the lowest median at $119,990 per year. Lower-paying states often also have lower living costs and, in some cases, no state income tax.
Sources and methodology
All figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) (Chief Executives, code 11-1011). “Typical pay” is the employment-weighted average of state medians. Take-home estimates on state pages use 2026 federal and verified state tax rules from our PaycheckTally engine.