Chief Executive salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Chief Executives in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $344,960 a year ($165.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,610 workers.
Pay ranges from $142,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $599,520 for the top 10%. That is 61% higher than the national median of $213,990. Pay here is 4% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $331,920. There are 0.80 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $357,220, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $142,940 | $68.72 |
| 25th percentile | $197,530 | $94.97 |
| Median | $344,960 | $165.85 |
| 75th percentile | $428,710 | $206.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $599,520 | $288.23 |
| Average (mean) | $357,220 | $171.74 |
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 | $28,746.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $14,373.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $13,267.69 |
| Weekly | $6,633.85 |
| Hourly | $165.85 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chief Executive salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Evansville, IN | $339,330 | 40 |
| Springfield, IL | $338,570 | 80 |
| Rockford, IL | $323,030 | 90 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $310,740 | 70 |
| Peoria, IL | $270,090 | 100 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $261,280 | 60 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $256,320 | 870 |
| Bloomington, IN | $235,900 | 80 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $213,920 | 640 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $213,720 | 60 |
| Decatur, IL | $212,400 | 30 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $207,170 | 980 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $205,030 | 200 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $204,450 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $202,840 | 1,120 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $148,710 | 40 |
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 |
See Chief Executive pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $109,390 | $52.59 |
| Financial Manager | $168,810 | $81.16 |
| Managers, All Other | $145,370 | $69.89 |
| Sales Manager | $158,690 | $76.29 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $173,760 | $83.54 |
| Marketing Manager | $165,340 | $79.49 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $123,090 | $59.18 |
| Construction Manager | $117,280 | $56.39 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $128,780 | — |
| Human Resources Manager | $156,770 | $75.37 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $77,980 | $37.49 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $129,840 | $62.43 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $108,940 | $52.37 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $124,120 | $59.68 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for chief executives in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $344,960 a year, or $165.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $142,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $599,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of chief executives in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $599,520 a year. The top 25% earn $428,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $142,940 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $197,530 or less.
How many chief executives work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 3,610 chief executives are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.