Chief Executives Salary
BLS May 2025 median wages — with computed take-home after taxes for all 46 reporting states. Tax year 2026.
Quick answer
According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data, the median chief executives in the US earns $213,990 per year (204,350 employed). Gross pay is highest in Oregon ($341,630) and lowest in Arkansas ($119,990) — but what you keep depends on the state's taxes; see the table.
Chief Executives pay by stategross median vs take-home
| State | Median wage | After taxes | Monthly net | Kept | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives in Oregon | $341,630 | $209,737 | $17,478 | 61.4% | 910 |
| Chief Executives in Washington | $339,810 | $240,118 | $20,010 | 70.7% | 3,170 |
| Chief Executives in Illinois | $331,920 | $218,890 | $18,241 | 65.9% | 4,620 |
| Chief Executives in North Carolina | $314,290 | $212,098 | $17,675 | 67.5% | 1,930 |
| Chief Executives in Virginia | $310,740 | $204,852 | $17,071 | 65.9% | 4,870 |
| Chief Executives in New Jersey | $310,440 | $204,131 | $17,011 | 65.8% | 2,430 |
| Chief Executives in Connecticut | $295,120 | $196,041 | $16,337 | 66.4% | 1,660 |
| Chief Executives in Hawaii | $281,640 | $182,599 | $15,217 | 64.8% | 470 |
| Chief Executives in South Dakota | $280,900 | $203,211 | $16,934 | 72.3% | 510 |
| Chief Executives in New York | $257,980 | $173,912 | $14,493 | 67.4% | 8,430 |
| Chief Executives in Texas | $257,850 | $188,336 | $15,695 | 73% | 8,780 |
| Chief Executives in Michigan | $255,560 | $176,222 | $14,685 | 69% | 4,950 |
| Chief Executives in Indiana | $254,180 | $178,458 | $14,871 | 70.2% | 1,820 |
| Chief Executives in Maryland | $248,660 | $169,976 | $14,165 | 68.4% | 3,180 |
| Chief Executives in Rhode Island | $235,360 | $163,591 | $13,633 | 69.5% | 460 |
| Chief Executives in Pennsylvania | $232,560 | $164,593 | $13,716 | 70.8% | 8,850 |
| Chief Executives in California | $218,600 | $146,468 | $12,206 | 67% | 34,700 |
| Chief Executives in Nebraska | $214,680 | $150,851 | $12,571 | 70.3% | 2,510 |
| Chief Executives in Colorado | $213,370 | $150,094 | $12,508 | 70.3% | — |
| Chief Executives in Iowa | $211,190 | $149,795 | $12,483 | 70.9% | 3,050 |
| Chief Executives in Wisconsin | $208,350 | $145,415 | $12,118 | 69.8% | — |
| Chief Executives in Georgia | $208,180 | $144,770 | $12,064 | 69.5% | 4,080 |
| Chief Executives in Delaware | $199,990 | $137,061 | $11,422 | 68.5% | 390 |
| Chief Executives in Tennessee | $198,830 | $148,055 | $12,338 | 74.5% | 4,700 |
| Chief Executives in Minnesota | $195,670 | $133,172 | $11,098 | 68.1% | 6,740 |
| Chief Executives in Montana | $182,340 | $126,954 | $10,580 | 69.6% | 670 |
| Chief Executives in Kentucky | $179,530 | $127,809 | $10,651 | 71.2% | 2,070 |
| Chief Executives in Idaho | $177,210 | $124,105 | $10,342 | 70% | 2,920 |
| Chief Executives in Ohio | $176,440 | $127,793 | $10,649 | 72.4% | 4,470 |
| Chief Executives in Vermont | $175,070 | $121,408 | $10,117 | 69.3% | 360 |
| Chief Executives in Missouri | $172,320 | $121,885 | $10,157 | 70.7% | 2,550 |
| Chief Executives in Utah | $171,880 | $121,012 | $10,084 | 70.4% | 3,140 |
| Chief Executives in South Carolina | $168,840 | $117,695 | $9,808 | 69.7% | 1,740 |
| Chief Executives in New Hampshire | $168,590 | $126,497 | $10,541 | 75% | — |
| Chief Executives in Alaska | $166,710 | $125,212 | $10,434 | 75.1% | 640 |
| Chief Executives in Alabama | $166,420 | $116,958 | $9,747 | 70.3% | 810 |
| Chief Executives in North Dakota | $164,560 | $121,793 | $10,149 | 74% | 380 |
| Chief Executives in Oklahoma | $163,790 | $116,392 | $9,699 | 71.1% | 2,390 |
| Chief Executives in Kansas | $158,100 | $111,305 | $9,275 | 70.4% | 1,960 |
| Chief Executives in West Virginia | $151,950 | $108,735 | $9,061 | 71.6% | 1,700 |
| Chief Executives in Nevada | $149,770 | $113,634 | $9,469 | 75.9% | 1,370 |
| Chief Executives in Wyoming | $147,940 | $112,383 | $9,365 | 76% | 60 |
| Chief Executives in Mississippi | $139,250 | $101,606 | $8,467 | 73% | 310 |
| Chief Executives in Maine | $138,770 | $97,689 | $8,141 | 70.4% | 1,580 |
| Chief Executives in New Mexico | $123,500 | $90,958 | $7,580 | 73.7% | 100 |
| Chief Executives in Arkansas | $119,990 | $88,776 | $7,398 | 74% | 3,550 |
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