Chief Executives
SOC 11-1011 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Chief Executives is $86,884, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $94,305, and an estimated 383,254 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +11.1% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -5.6% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 4.3% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Chief Executives has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $206,680 | $206,680 | 211,230 |
| 2022 | $189,520 | $197,321 | 199,240 |
| 2021 | $179,520 | $201,868 | 200,480 |
| 2020 | $185,950 | $218,922 | 202,360 |
Nominal change
+11.1%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-5.6%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+4.3%
Faster than average
Employment 2024
309,400
Projected 2034
322,700
Annual Openings
22,200
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Chief Executives earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $86,884. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $231,080 | +166% | 38,920 |
| Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $226,850 | +161.1% | 80 |
| Hawaii | $223,900 | +157.7% | 560 |
| Idaho | $218,220 | +151.2% | — |
| Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $216,600 | +149.3% | 90 |
| Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $214,710 | +147.1% | 80 |
| Mountain North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $214,010 | +146.3% | 30 |
| New York | $212,960 | +145.1% | 7,630 |
| Georgia | $212,560 | +144.6% | 6,620 |
| Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $209,470 | +141.1% | 110 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$47,786
25th Pct
$65,163
Median
$86,884
75th Pct
$112,949
90th Pct
$143,358
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chenmark Capital Management, LLC | ME | 3 | $125,500 |
| Tensai Technologies Inc. | WA | 2 | $208,000 |
| Teza Technologies LLC | TX | 2 | $247,100 |
| LED Linear USA Inc | NY | 2 | $329,742 |
| Wingspan Networks, Inc. | NY | 2 | $250,278 |
| Horus Renewables CORP | FL | 2 | $211,000 |
| Shine Lawyers US, LLC | NY | 2 | $208,000 |
| Sundance Institute | UT | 1 | $285,000 |
| FIS Management Services, LLC | FL | 1 | $412,000 |
| Aristocrat Technologies, Inc. | NV | 1 | $274,600 |
| Berry Fresh LLC | CA | 1 | $250,000 |
| Castle Branch, Inc. | NC | 1 | $175,800 |
| Select Business Solutions, Inc. | TX | 1 | $342,160 |
| HEREFORD PLUMBING LLC | TX | 1 | $160,000 |
| FIS Management Services, LLC | NJ | 1 | $412,000 |
| Solar Industry Resources, LLC | VT | 1 | $150,000 |
| Ruffo Inc | FL | 1 | $165,152 |
| China Youth 4 Environmental Sustainability | CA | 1 | $126,890 |
| LASE Innovation, Inc. | MA | 1 | $179,982 |
| Nicolas Logistics, Inc. | CA | 1 | $160,000 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Management
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.
All Management occupations →