Chief Executive salary in Washington
Chief Executives in Washington earn a median of $339,810 a year ($163.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,170 workers.
Pay ranges from $160,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $607,100 for the top 10%. That is 59% higher than the national median of $213,990. Washington ranks 2nd of 46 states for chief executives pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.89 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.68). The average (mean) salary is $360,290, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $160,110 | $76.97 |
| 25th percentile | $216,230 | $103.96 |
| Median | $339,810 | $163.37 |
| 75th percentile | $442,180 | $212.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $607,100 | $291.88 |
| Average (mean) | $360,290 | $173.22 |
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 | $28,317.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $14,158.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $13,069.62 |
| Weekly | $6,534.81 |
| Hourly | $163.37 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $375,810 | 690 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $370,000 | 2,060 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $287,180 | 70 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $268,090 | 60 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $260,940 | 160 |
| Yakima, WA | $238,180 | 50 |
| Bellingham, WA | $236,930 | 70 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $210,760 | 30 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $207,100 | 30 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $204,190 | 130 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $176,030 | 70 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $133,750 | $64.30 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $209,370 | $100.66 |
| Financial Manager | $174,840 | $84.06 |
| Managers, All Other | $164,160 | $78.92 |
| Sales Manager | $174,000 | $83.65 |
| Marketing Manager | $172,270 | $82.82 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $145,290 | $69.85 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $166,590 | — |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $189,680 | $91.19 |
| Construction Manager | $155,070 | $74.55 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $145,210 | $69.81 |
| Human Resources Manager | $165,530 | $79.58 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $103,000 | $49.52 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $130,630 | $62.80 |
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 Washington?
The median salary for chief executives in Washington is $339,810 a year, or $163.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $160,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $607,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in Washington?
The top 10% of chief executives in Washington earn at least $607,100 a year. The top 25% earn $442,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $160,110 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $216,230 or less.
How many chief executives work in Washington?
About 3,170 chief executives are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.