Chief Executive salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Chief Executives in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median of $286,050 a year ($137.52 an hour), based on BLS data for 360 workers.
Pay ranges from $114,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $664,790 for the top 10%. That is 34% higher than the national median of $213,990. Pay here is 9% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $314,290. There are 0.48 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.36). The average (mean) salary is $336,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $114,160 | $54.88 |
| 25th percentile | $171,810 | $82.60 |
| Median | $286,050 | $137.52 |
| 75th percentile | $417,820 | $200.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $664,790 | $319.61 |
| Average (mean) | $336,960 | $162.00 |
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 | $23,837.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $11,918.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $11,001.92 |
| Weekly | $5,500.96 |
| Hourly | $137.52 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $114,940 | $55.26 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $173,960 | $83.63 |
| Managers, All Other | $147,370 | $70.85 |
| Financial Manager | $163,130 | $78.43 |
| Sales Manager | $163,520 | $78.62 |
| Construction Manager | $119,700 | $57.55 |
| Marketing Manager | $167,640 | $80.60 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $113,710 | $54.67 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $98,680 | — |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $66,700 | $32.07 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $169,780 | $81.62 |
| Food Service Manager | $76,160 | $36.62 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $173,510 | $83.42 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $109,760 | $52.77 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in Raleigh-Cary, 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median salary for chief executives in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $286,050 a year, or $137.52 an hour. Pay ranges from $114,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $664,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The top 10% of chief executives in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn at least $664,790 a year. The top 25% earn $417,820 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $114,160 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $171,810 or less.
How many chief executives work in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
About 360 chief executives are employed in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.