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President/Chief Executive Officer Salary By State: Highest-Paid President/Chief Executive Officers by State [2026]

By Chris Kolmar
Mar. 20, 2024
Last Modified and Fact Checked on: Feb. 9, 2026

Research Summary. After thorough analysis by the Zippia data science team, we have identified current salary data for president/chief executive officers across the United States, reflecting the latest trends in compensation:

For more details, you can explore our detailed methodology.

Background

Across various demographics, salary consistently ranks as the most crucial factor in job satisfaction. As such, potential candidates often inquire, “How much do president/chief executive officers earn in my area?” Understanding salary expectations is essential for both job seekers and employers.

While individual salaries can vary based on several factors including experience, industry, and company size, we provide comprehensive data on average salaries for president/chief executive officers by state, segmented by seniority level. This can help you gauge what to expect for your salary.

Currently, New Jersey leads in compensation for president/chief executive officers after adjustments for cost of living and other factors.

Here’s a quick look at the top ten states for president/chief executive officer salaries:

  1. New Jersey (Jobs)

  2. Alaska (Jobs)

  3. Washington (Jobs)

  4. New York (Jobs)

  5. Nevada (Jobs)

  6. Pennsylvania (Jobs)

  7. Michigan (Jobs)

  8. Illinois (Jobs)

  9. Massachusetts (Jobs)

  10. Minnesota (Jobs)

Now, let’s delve into the data and present a comprehensive ranking of all states.

Highest-Paid President/chief Executive Officers By State

Rank State Average President/chief Executive Officer Salary 10th Percentile 90th Percentile
1 New Jersey $216,579 $161,000 $289,000
2 Alaska $212,379 $157,000 $285,000
3 Washington $210,254 $153,000 $287,000
4 New York $201,998 $145,000 $280,000
5 Nevada $201,957 $144,000 $281,000
6 Pennsylvania $201,896 $144,000 $281,000
7 Michigan $201,416 $143,000 $282,000
8 Illinois $198,209 $139,000 $280,000
9 Massachusetts $198,139 $141,000 $277,000
10 Minnesota $197,282 $139,000 $279,000
11 Connecticut $197,200 $140,000 $277,000
12 California $196,197 $138,000 $277,000
13 Texas $196,076 $137,000 $278,000
14 North Carolina $194,566 $136,000 $277,000
15 New Mexico $194,157 $136,000 $277,000
16 Arizona $193,364 $135,000 $276,000
17 Nebraska $192,615 $133,000 $277,000
18 Virginia $192,095 $133,000 $275,000
19 Colorado $191,964 $133,000 $276,000
20 Delaware $191,826 $134,000 $274,000
21 Alabama $191,163 $132,000 $275,000
22 Missouri $188,287 $129,000 $274,000
23 Georgia $188,203 $129,000 $273,000
24 Louisiana $187,562 $129,000 $272,000
25 Hawaii $185,749 $126,000 $272,000
26 Iowa $185,691 $126,000 $272,000
27 Ohio $185,386 $126,000 $271,000
28 North Dakota $185,281 $126,000 $270,000
29 Florida $185,121 $126,000 $271,000
30 Rhode Island $183,914 $126,000 $266,000
31 South Carolina $183,306 $124,000 $269,000
32 Idaho $180,430 $121,000 $267,000
33 Maryland $179,670 $121,000 $265,000
34 West Virginia $179,530 $120,000 $266,000
35 Montana $179,249 $120,000 $266,000
36 Wyoming $177,860 $119,000 $265,000
37 Wisconsin $175,839 $117,000 $263,000
38 South Dakota $175,544 $116,000 $264,000
39 Oregon $173,762 $115,000 $261,000
40 Arkansas $172,816 $114,000 $261,000
41 Utah $171,377 $113,000 $259,000
42 Maine $169,352 $112,000 $253,000
43 Kentucky $169,270 $110,000 $258,000
44 Kansas $168,101 $109,000 $257,000
45 Tennessee $165,577 $107,000 $255,000
46 Indiana $163,650 $105,000 $253,000
47 Oklahoma $156,042 $98,000 $246,000
48 Vermont $152,652 $98,000 $237,000
49 New Hampshire $148,643 $94,000 $232,000
50 Mississippi $141,509 $86,000 $230,000

Methodology: President/chief Executive Officer Salary By State

To better understand salary trends for president/chief executive officers across states, Zippia has compiled data from multiple reputable sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Commission (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This data is further enhanced by actual salary listings from job postings. The Zippia data science team calculates a weighted average to determine the average salaries for president/chief executive officers in each state.

We rank states based on their average annual salaries for these positions, allowing for a clear comparison of compensation levels across the country.

President/chief Executive Officer Salary By State FAQs

  1. What is the highest-paid state for president/chief executive officers?

    The highest-paid state for president/chief executive officers is New Jersey with an average salary of $216,579 per year.

  2. What city pays president/chief executive officers the most?

    Washington, DC pays president/chief executive officers the highest, with an average salary of $352,548 per year.

  3. What is the worst state for president/chief executive officers?

    The lowest-paying state for president/chief executive officers is Mississippi, with an average salary of $141,509 per year.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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