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CEO: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$213,990median pay per year, or $102.88 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $75,700lowest 10% earn less
  2. $129,54025th percentile
  3. $213,990median
  4. $356,20075th percentile
  5. $507,730top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

The median pay for chief executives was $213,990 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 3.2% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3.2%[2]
Openings per year
19,100[5]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[6]

How much do CEOs make?

The median pay for chief executives was $213,990 a year, or $102.88 an hour[1]. Half of chief executives earned more than this and half earned less. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980[4]. The average was higher than the median, at $269,630 a year, or $129.63 an hour[7].

Pay varies a lot. The table shows the wage boundaries BLS publishes.

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[3][8] $75,700 $36.39
25th percentile[3][8] $129,540 $62.28
Median[1] $213,990 $102.88
75th percentile[3][8] $356,200 $171.25
90th percentile[3][8] $507,730 $244.10

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $75,700, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $507,730[3]. A percentile is a boundary. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and owners of unincorporated firms. They also leave out nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10].

Pay by state and city

Among the 46 states with published data, Oregon had the highest median pay for chief executives at $341,630, followed by Washington at $339,810 and Illinois at $331,920[11]. Oregon had 910 jobs in the data[11].

California had the most jobs, at 34,700[12]. Pennsylvania had 8,850, Texas 8,780, New York 8,430 and Minnesota 6,740[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Midland, TX had the highest median at $389,330[13]. Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT followed at $388,060, then Durham-Chapel Hill, NC at $381,330[13].

The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA area had the most jobs, at 10,800, with a median of $234,290[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area was next at 7,180 jobs, with a median of $301,440[14].

Show median pay in 46 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[11]$341,630910
Washington$339,8103,170
Illinois$331,9204,620
North Carolina$314,2901,930
Virginia$310,7404,870
New Jersey$310,4402,430
Connecticut$295,1201,660
Hawaii$281,640470
South Dakota$280,900510
New York$257,9808,430
Texas$257,8508,780
Michigan$255,5604,950
Indiana$254,1801,820
Maryland$248,6603,180
Rhode Island$235,360460
Pennsylvania$232,5608,850
California$218,60034,700
Nebraska$214,6802,510
Colorado$213,370n/a
Iowa$211,1903,050
Wisconsin$208,350n/a
Georgia$208,1804,080
Delaware$199,990390
Tennessee$198,8304,700
Minnesota$195,6706,740
Montana$182,340670
Kentucky$179,5302,070
Idaho$177,2102,920
Ohio$176,4404,470
Vermont$175,070360
Missouri$172,3202,550
Utah$171,8803,140
South Carolina$168,8401,740
New Hampshire$168,590n/a
Alaska$166,710640
Alabama$166,420810
North Dakota$164,560380
Oklahoma$163,7902,390
Kansas$158,1001,960
West Virginia$151,9501,700
Nevada$149,7701,370
Wyoming$147,94060
Mississippi$139,250310
Maine$138,7701,580
New Mexico$123,500100
Arkansas$119,9903,550

How to become a CEO

BLS lists a typical path for chief executives. Details below that come from the Occupational Outlook Handbook profile on top executives, which covers a wider group than chief executives alone[15].

BLS lists no typical on-the-job training for this occupation[6]. The handbook adds that executive training and development programs often help managers and executives[21].

What CEOs do

Chief executives set policies and give overall direction to an organization, working within limits set by a board or similar governing body[22]. O*NET lists these tasks[23]:

O*NET workers report job titles such as CEO, chief financial officer, chief operating officer and executive director[24].

Where they work

Top executives work in almost every industry, in small and large organizations[25]. The profile notes that some run a business where they are the only employee[25]. In 2025, 26.6% of chief executives were self-employed[26], and the handbook lists self-employed workers at 27% of top executives[27].

The handbook says the work may be stressful because executives are held responsible for the organization's success[28]. They travel often for meetings and visits to offices[29]. Top executives mostly work full time, and many put in over 40 hours a week, with evenings and weekends included[30].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of chief executives to grow 3.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 291,600 to 300,900 jobs, a change of 9,300[2]. Growth for all occupations is projected at 3.5%[31]. So this occupation is projected to grow a little slower than average.

BLS expects about 19,100 openings a year on average[5]. Openings also come from workers who retire or switch occupations, not only from new jobs[5]. Each year, 2.7% of chief executives leave the labor force and 3.5% move to a different occupation[32].

The job counts in this page come from two sources. The OEWS count of about 204,350 covers wage and salary jobs and does not count the self-employed[33]. The projection counts include self-employed workers[2].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is far above the all-occupation median, and the range is wide[1][3][4]. The route in takes a bachelor's degree and 5 years or more of related experience[6]. Job growth is slightly below the all-occupation rate, and BLS projects about 19,100 openings a year[2][31][5]. Openings include retirements and moves to other occupations[5]. The work may be stressful, involves travel and often runs past 40 hours a week[28][29][30]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $75,700[3].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[34].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a CEO make an hour?
The median hourly wage for chief executives was $102.88 in May 2025, and the average was $129.63[1][7].
What degree do you need to be a CEO?
The typical entry education is a bachelor's degree, along with 5 years or more of related work experience[6]. In an O*NET survey of 28 workers, 46% said a master's degree was required[17].
Is the CEO job in demand?
BLS projects 3.2% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, and about 19,100 openings a year[2][31][5].
What state pays CEOs the most?
Oregon had the highest median at $341,630, followed by Washington at $339,810[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Chief Executives in the US was $213,990 per year and $102.88 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Chief Executives is projected to grow 3.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 291,600 to 300,900 jobs (a change of +9,300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Chief Executives: 10th percentile $75,700, 25th percentile $129,540, 75th percentile $356,200, 90th percentile $507,730. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 19,100 openings for Chief Executives are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Chief Executives: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: 5 years or more; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Chief Executives was $269,630 per year and $129.63 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Chief Executives: 10th percentile $36.39, 25th percentile $62.28, 75th percentile $171.25, 90th percentile $244.10. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Chief Executives in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Chief Executives jobs: California 34,700; Pennsylvania 8,850; Texas 8,780; New York 8,430; Minnesota 6,740. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Chief Executives (areas with at least 100 jobs): Midland, TX $389,330; Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $388,060; Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $381,330; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $375,810; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $370,000; Greensboro-High Point, NC $354,310; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $344,960; Ann Arbor, MI $335,900. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Chief Executives jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 10,800 (median $234,290); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 7,180 (median $301,440); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 5,210; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 5,190 (median $288,690); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 4,500 (median $209,980); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 4,120 (median $292,770). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Top Executives" covers Chief Executives together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. O*NET 11-1011.00 survey of workers (28 respondents), education level they say is required: Master's Degree 46%, Bachelor's Degree 32%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET description of Chief Executives. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET task list for Chief Executives. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET 11-1011.00 sample job titles reported by workers: CEO (Chief Executive Officer), Chief Diversity Officer (CDO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Information Officer (CIO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Technical Officer (CTO), Executive Director, Executive Vice President (EVP). O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. BLS Employment Projections: 26.6% of Chief Executives were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  27. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of top executives in 2025: Self-employed workers 27%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Chief Executives: 2.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 204,350 people were employed as Chief Executives in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  34. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.