Chief Executive salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Chief Executives in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $381,330 a year ($183.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $113,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $765,300 for the top 10%. That is 78% higher than the national median of $213,990. Pay here is 21% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $314,290. There are 0.42 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.32). The average (mean) salary is $425,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $113,920 | $54.77 |
| 25th percentile | $248,580 | $119.51 |
| Median | $381,330 | $183.33 |
| 75th percentile | $499,990 | $240.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $765,300 | $367.93 |
| Average (mean) | $425,580 | $204.61 |
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 | $31,777.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $15,888.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $14,666.54 |
| Weekly | $7,333.27 |
| Hourly | $183.33 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $354,310 | 160 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $329,030 | 740 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $312,730 | 50 |
| Wilmington, NC | $298,730 | 30 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $297,350 | 530 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $286,050 | 360 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $273,710 | 80 |
| Asheville, NC | $270,520 | 50 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $113,930 | $54.77 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $176,190 | $84.71 |
| Managers, All Other | $152,090 | $73.12 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $183,540 | $88.24 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $133,970 | $64.41 |
| Financial Manager | $165,470 | $79.55 |
| Marketing Manager | $175,160 | $84.21 |
| Sales Manager | $190,370 | $91.52 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $107,720 | $51.79 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $172,480 | $82.92 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $61,010 | $29.33 |
| Construction Manager | $119,980 | $57.68 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $89,750 | — |
| Human Resources Manager | $160,580 | $77.20 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for chief executives in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $381,330 a year, or $183.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $113,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $765,300 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of chief executives in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $765,300 a year. The top 25% earn $499,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $113,920 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $248,580 or less.
How many chief executives work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 140 chief executives are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.