Chief Executive salary in Illinois
Chief Executives in Illinois earn a median of $331,920 a year ($159.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,620 workers.
Pay ranges from $133,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $589,720 for the top 10%. That is 55% higher than the national median of $213,990. Illinois ranks 3rd of 46 states for chief executives pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.76 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.58). The average (mean) salary is $347,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $133,170 | $64.02 |
| 25th percentile | $186,440 | $89.63 |
| Median | $331,920 | $159.58 |
| 75th percentile | $428,710 | $206.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $589,720 | $283.52 |
| Average (mean) | $347,550 | $167.09 |
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 | $27,660 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $13,830 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $12,766.15 |
| Weekly | $6,383.08 |
| Hourly | $159.58 |
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 Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $344,960 | 3,610 |
| Springfield, IL | $338,570 | 80 |
| Rockford, IL | $323,030 | 90 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $310,740 | 70 |
| Peoria, IL | $270,090 | 100 |
| Decatur, IL | $212,400 | 30 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $205,030 | 200 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $103,570 | $49.80 |
| Financial Manager | $165,880 | $79.75 |
| Sales Manager | $155,280 | $74.65 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $171,730 | $82.56 |
| Managers, All Other | $140,240 | $67.42 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $117,850 | $56.66 |
| Marketing Manager | $162,860 | $78.30 |
| Construction Manager | $109,160 | $52.48 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $113,360 | — |
| Human Resources Manager | $151,370 | $72.78 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $106,860 | $51.38 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $127,270 | $61.19 |
| Food Service Manager | $63,930 | $30.73 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $74,980 | $36.05 |
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 Illinois?
The median salary for chief executives in Illinois is $331,920 a year, or $159.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $133,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $589,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in Illinois?
The top 10% of chief executives in Illinois earn at least $589,720 a year. The top 25% earn $428,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $133,170 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $186,440 or less.
How many chief executives work in Illinois?
About 4,620 chief executives are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.