California ranks 2nd of 37 states and D.C. for chief executives pay, trailing top-paying Hawaii ($231,500) by $10,900 — a 5% gap.
Chief Executives are more concentrated in California than the U.S. average — a location quotient of 1.49 means the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.49× the national share.
California employs roughly 17.5% of all chief executives in the country (36,980 workers).
Salary Range: 10th to 90th Percentile
Full Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $87,070 | $41.86 |
| 25th percentile | $142,270 | $68.40 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $220,600 | $106.06 |
| 75th percentile | N/A | N/A |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (average) | $289,530 | $139.20 |
How California Compares
| State | Median Annual | vs. California |
|---|---|---|
| California (current) | $220,600 | n/a |
| Hawaii | $231,500 | +5% |
| Pennsylvania | $220,510 | +0% |
| New York | $219,320 | -1% |
| Michigan | $219,230 | -1% |
| Rhode Island | $211,810 | -4% |
| Wisconsin | $209,090 | -5% |
| Ohio | $208,590 | -5% |
| Nebraska | $206,080 | -7% |
Showing top-paying states with available data. View all states →
Related Occupations in California
| Occupation | Median Annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $211,340 | 100,020 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $204,100 | 14,120 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $201,810 | 30,690 |
| Physicians, All Other | $201,510 | 20,750 |
| Lawyers | $197,790 | 92,580 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $179,880 | 24,200 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Chief Executives salary in California?
The mean chief executives salary in California is $289,530 per year. The median (middle) salary is $220,600 per year.
What is the starting salary for a Chief Executives in California?
Entry-level chief executivess (10th percentile) in California typically earn around $87,070 per year. Workers at the 25th percentile earn approximately $142,270 per year.
What is the highest Chief Executives salary in California?
Top earners (90th percentile) in this occupation in California make approximately N/A per year. Those in the 75th percentile earn around N/A per year.
How does the California Chief Executives salary compare to the national average?
The median chief executives salary in California is $220,600, which is +7% above national average of $206,420.