Chief Executive salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Chief Executives in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $202,840 a year ($97.52 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,120 workers.
Pay ranges from $93,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $504,140 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $213,990. Pay here is 18% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $172,320. There are 0.84 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.64). The average (mean) salary is $264,890, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $93,620 | $45.01 |
| 25th percentile | $136,840 | $65.79 |
| Median | $202,840 | $97.52 |
| 75th percentile | $317,990 | $152.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $504,140 | $242.38 |
| Average (mean) | $264,890 | $127.35 |
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 | $16,903.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $8,451.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,801.54 |
| Weekly | $3,900.77 |
| Hourly | $97.52 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $221,640 | 990 |
| Decatur, IL | $212,400 | 30 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $205,030 | 200 |
| Springfield, MO | $179,910 | 150 |
| Columbia, MO | $159,890 | 90 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $148,710 | 40 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $134,670 | 60 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $131,540 | 50 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $113,090 | 120 |
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 Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $93,140 | $44.78 |
| Financial Manager | $158,780 | $76.34 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $167,130 | $80.35 |
| Managers, All Other | $130,590 | $62.79 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $106,200 | $51.06 |
| Sales Manager | $123,870 | $59.56 |
| Marketing Manager | $137,900 | $66.30 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $107,640 | — |
| Construction Manager | $116,680 | $56.09 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $62,500 | $30.05 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $122,860 | $59.07 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $110,070 | $52.92 |
| Human Resources Manager | $133,880 | $64.36 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $107,090 | $51.49 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for chief executives in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $202,840 a year, or $97.52 an hour. Pay ranges from $93,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $504,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of chief executives in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $504,140 a year. The top 25% earn $317,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $93,620 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $136,840 or less.
How many chief executives work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 1,120 chief executives are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.