Chief Executive salary in Columbus, OH
Chief Executives in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median of $162,910 a year ($78.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,160 workers.
Pay ranges from $90,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $433,150 for the top 10%. That is 24% lower than the national median of $213,990. Pay here is 8% lower than the Ohio statewide median of $176,440. There are 1.1 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $240,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in Columbus, OH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $90,330 | $43.43 |
| 25th percentile | $133,540 | $64.20 |
| Median | $162,910 | $78.32 |
| 75th percentile | $311,080 | $149.56 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $433,150 | $208.24 |
| Average (mean) | $240,830 | $115.78 |
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 | $13,575.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,787.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,265.77 |
| Weekly | $3,132.88 |
| Hourly | $78.32 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $210,670 | 200 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $207,170 | 980 |
| Cleveland, OH | $199,350 | 980 |
| Akron, OH | $172,610 | 250 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $172,470 | 100 |
| Toledo, OH | $168,830 | 180 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $161,760 | 270 |
| Lima, OH | $150,740 | 30 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $145,910 | 110 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $139,950 | 50 |
| Sandusky, OH | $120,030 | 30 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $109,730 | 150 |
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 Ohio statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbus, OH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $102,590 | $49.32 |
| Financial Manager | $145,630 | $70.02 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $107,520 | $51.69 |
| Sales Manager | $138,580 | $66.63 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $167,630 | $80.59 |
| Construction Manager | $105,200 | $50.58 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $61,880 | $29.75 |
| Marketing Manager | $134,420 | $64.62 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $101,000 | — |
| Food Service Manager | $63,420 | $30.49 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $105,360 | $50.65 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $104,050 | $50.02 |
| Human Resources Manager | $131,100 | $63.03 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $112,020 | $53.86 |
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 Columbus, OH?
The median salary for chief executives in the Columbus, OH metro area is $162,910 a year, or $78.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $90,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $433,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in Columbus, OH?
The top 10% of chief executives in the Columbus, OH metro area earn at least $433,150 a year. The top 25% earn $311,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in Columbus, OH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $90,330 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $133,540 or less.
How many chief executives work in Columbus, OH?
About 1,160 chief executives are employed in the Columbus, OH metro area, not counting the self-employed.