Chief Executive salary in North Carolina
Chief Executives in North Carolina earn a median of $314,290 a year ($151.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,930 workers.
Pay ranges from $114,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $624,990 for the top 10%. That is 47% higher than the national median of $213,990. North Carolina ranks 4th of 46 states for chief executives pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.39 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.30). The average (mean) salary is $347,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $114,210 | $54.91 |
| 25th percentile | $182,980 | $87.97 |
| Median | $314,290 | $151.10 |
| 75th percentile | $442,080 | $212.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $624,990 | $300.48 |
| Average (mean) | $347,690 | $167.16 |
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 | $26,190.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $13,095.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $12,088.08 |
| Weekly | $6,044.04 |
| Hourly | $151.10 |
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 North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $381,330 | 140 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $101,950 | $49.01 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $172,860 | $83.11 |
| Financial Manager | $166,780 | $80.18 |
| Managers, All Other | $141,160 | $67.87 |
| Sales Manager | $150,470 | $72.34 |
| Construction Manager | $106,640 | $51.27 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $114,410 | $55.01 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $83,180 | — |
| Marketing Manager | $165,480 | $79.56 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $61,430 | $29.54 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $125,940 | $60.55 |
| Food Service Manager | $74,080 | $35.62 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $101,060 | $48.59 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $105,630 | $50.78 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for chief executives in North Carolina is $314,290 a year, or $151.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $114,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $624,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of chief executives in North Carolina earn at least $624,990 a year. The top 25% earn $442,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $114,210 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $182,980 or less.
How many chief executives work in North Carolina?
About 1,930 chief executives are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.