Chief Executive salary in California
Chief Executives in California earn a median of $218,600 a year ($105.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 34,700 workers.
Pay ranges from $85,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $486,830 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $213,990. California ranks 17th of 46 states for chief executives pay. There are 1.9 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $272,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,790 | $41.25 |
| 25th percentile | $133,610 | $64.23 |
| Median | $218,600 | $105.10 |
| 75th percentile | $351,090 | $168.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $486,830 | $234.05 |
| Average (mean) | $272,920 | $131.21 |
Half of chief executives earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $18,216.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $9,108.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $8,407.69 |
| Weekly | $4,203.85 |
| Hourly | $105.10 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chief Executive salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $288,690 | 5,190 |
| Napa, CA | $241,590 | 150 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $238,440 | 2,710 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $234,290 | 10,800 |
| Salinas, CA | $226,270 | 220 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $218,690 | 350 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $214,340 | 310 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $209,080 | 220 |
| Yuba City, CA | $209,060 | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $202,750 | 430 |
| Modesto, CA | $200,900 | 230 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $195,650 | 360 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $195,400 | 390 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $190,020 | 180 |
| Fresno, CA | $188,930 | 700 |
| Merced, CA | $181,660 | 100 |
| Vallejo, CA | $180,180 | 180 |
| El Centro, CA | $177,950 | 60 |
| Chico, CA | $176,750 | 130 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $176,700 | 1,920 |
| Redding, CA | $170,770 | 110 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $169,770 | 3,680 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $160,950 | 50 |
| Visalia, CA | $155,510 | 210 |
Highest-paying states for chief executives
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $341,630 |
| Washington | $339,810 |
| Illinois | $331,920 |
| North Carolina | $314,290 |
| Virginia | $310,740 |
| New Jersey | $310,440 |
| Connecticut | $295,120 |
| Hawaii | $281,640 |
| South Dakota | $280,900 |
| New York | $257,980 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $124,390 | $59.81 |
| Sales Manager | $134,910 | $64.86 |
| Managers, All Other | $174,560 | $83.92 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $218,290 | $104.95 |
| Financial Manager | $180,770 | $86.91 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $141,480 | $68.02 |
| Marketing Manager | $193,620 | $93.09 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $77,030 | $37.04 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $108,890 | $52.35 |
| Construction Manager | $133,160 | $64.02 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $83,210 | $40.01 |
| Food Service Manager | $78,260 | $37.63 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $159,950 | — |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $123,780 | $59.51 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chief executive make in California?
The median salary for chief executives in California is $218,600 a year, or $105.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $85,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $486,830 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in California?
The top 10% of chief executives in California earn at least $486,830 a year. The top 25% earn $351,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $85,790 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $133,610 or less.
How many chief executives work in California?
About 34,700 chief executives are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.