Chief Executive salary in Richmond, VA
Chief Executives in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median of $326,160 a year ($156.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 820 workers.
Pay ranges from $130,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $558,600 for the top 10%. That is 52% higher than the national median of $213,990. Pay here is 5% higher than the Virginia statewide median of $310,740. There are 1.2 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $328,500, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in Richmond, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $130,130 | $62.56 |
| 25th percentile | $188,360 | $90.56 |
| Median | $326,160 | $156.81 |
| 75th percentile | $401,930 | $193.24 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $558,600 | $268.56 |
| Average (mean) | $328,500 | $157.93 |
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 | $27,180 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $13,590 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $12,544.62 |
| Weekly | $6,272.31 |
| Hourly | $156.81 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | $317,900 | 180 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $297,350 | 530 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $264,970 | 40 |
| Roanoke, VA | $258,310 | 100 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $225,760 | 40 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $221,620 | 90 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $219,400 | 160 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $208,030 | 50 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $189,410 | 100 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Richmond, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $108,670 | $52.24 |
| Financial Manager | $173,140 | $83.24 |
| Managers, All Other | $144,730 | $69.58 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $180,640 | $86.85 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,660 | $62.34 |
| Sales Manager | $168,590 | $81.05 |
| Construction Manager | $110,350 | $53.05 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $104,380 | — |
| Marketing Manager | $174,130 | $83.71 |
| Human Resources Manager | $152,190 | $73.17 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $87,440 | $42.04 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $104,070 | $50.04 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $111,480 | $53.60 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $115,530 | $55.54 |
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 Richmond, VA?
The median salary for chief executives in the Richmond, VA metro area is $326,160 a year, or $156.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $130,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $558,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in Richmond, VA?
The top 10% of chief executives in the Richmond, VA metro area earn at least $558,600 a year. The top 25% earn $401,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in Richmond, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $130,130 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $188,360 or less.
How many chief executives work in Richmond, VA?
About 820 chief executives are employed in the Richmond, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.