▼43%
$170,111
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$85k
MEDIAN
$170k
90%
$331k
The average salary for a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is $170,111 in 2025
Base Salary
$85k - $331k
Bonus
$5k - $128k
Profit Sharing
$5k - $90k
Commission
$6k - $113k
Total Pay
$87k - $400k
Is Average Experienced Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with Strategic Planning Skills Salary your job title? Find out what you should be paid
Use our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?
EXPLORE BY:
Featured Content
‹
Remote Work
New research shows how to set pay for remote employees
Gender Pay Gap
New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education.
Compensation Best Practices Report
From compensation planning to variable pay to pay equity analysis, we surveyed 4,900+ organizations on how they manage compensation.
Salary Budget Survey Report
See how organizations are shifting their salary budgets this year.
Retention Report
Get strategies you can use to retain top talent and learn how impactful employee retention really is.
Variable Pay Playbook
Before you decide whether variable pay is right for your org, get a deeper understanding of the variable pay options and the cultural impact of pay choices.
›
What is the Pay by Experience Level for Chief Executive Officer (CEO)s?
What Do Chief Executive Officer (CEO)s Do?
Find your market worth – how it works:
Common Health Benefits for a Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Medical
81%
Dental
66%
Vision
58%
None
18%
Gender Breakdown for Chief Executive Officer (CEO)s
Male
65.0%
Female
33.6%
Prefer to self-define
0.8%
This data is based on 506 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Chief Executive Officer (CEO)s
What is the highest pay for Chief Executive Officer (CEO)s?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is $331k / year
What is the lowest pay for Chief Executive Officer (CEO)s?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is $85k / year
How can Chief Executive Officer (CEO)s increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) that oversees more junior Chief Executive Officer (CEO)s, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.