Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we have identified key insights regarding executive salaries across the United States for 2026:
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Rhode Island boasts the highest executive salary at $149,785.
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Oklahoma holds the lowest executive salary at $62,546.
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The national average salary for executives is $108,285.
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The national hourly pay for executives stands at $52.06.
You can read more about the specific methodology.
Background
In surveys across various demographics, salary consistently ranks as the most crucial factor for job seekers. Understanding how much executives earn in your area is vital for making informed career decisions.
While individual salaries may vary based on specific roles and locations, we provide comprehensive average salaries for executives by state, segmented by seniority. This data serves as a reliable foundation for salary expectations in your region.
After adjustments, the state with the highest average executive salary remains Rhode Island.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for executive salaries:
Let’s delve into the data and explore a comprehensive ranking of executive salaries by state.
Highest-Paid Executives By State
| Rank | State | Average Executive Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $149,785 | $99,000 | $224,000 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $138,089 | $90,000 | $210,000 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $137,061 | $89,000 | $209,000 |
| 4 | Washington | $135,630 | $86,000 | $211,000 |
| 5 | New York | $130,434 | $84,000 | $202,000 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $128,987 | $82,000 | $200,000 |
| 7 | Virginia | $126,604 | $78,000 | $203,000 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $124,754 | $79,000 | $196,000 |
| 9 | Nevada | $120,731 | $73,000 | $197,000 |
| 10 | Michigan | $118,554 | $74,000 | $189,000 |
| 11 | California | $116,836 | $71,000 | $191,000 |
| 12 | Maryland | $115,265 | $71,000 | $185,000 |
| 13 | Delaware | $114,925 | $72,000 | $183,000 |
| 14 | Alaska | $114,576 | $72,000 | $181,000 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $114,146 | $69,000 | $187,000 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $111,216 | $71,000 | $173,000 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $109,792 | $67,000 | $177,000 |
| 18 | Ohio | $108,360 | $66,000 | $177,000 |
| 19 | Arizona | $106,484 | $63,000 | $179,000 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $105,293 | $62,000 | $177,000 |
| 21 | Maine | $103,215 | $66,000 | $160,000 |
| 22 | Vermont | $101,960 | $65,000 | $158,000 |
| 23 | Georgia | $101,449 | $58,000 | $175,000 |
| 24 | Iowa | $101,283 | $61,000 | $167,000 |
| 25 | Texas | $100,859 | $58,000 | $173,000 |
| 26 | Alabama | $100,551 | $58,000 | $173,000 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $98,338 | $56,000 | $170,000 |
| 28 | Illinois | $97,941 | $59,000 | $161,000 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $97,904 | $57,000 | $166,000 |
| 30 | Oregon | $96,781 | $58,000 | $158,000 |
| 31 | Utah | $96,217 | $57,000 | $160,000 |
| 32 | Indiana | $95,400 | $56,000 | $159,000 |
| 33 | Idaho | $93,904 | $57,000 | $154,000 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $93,888 | $57,000 | $152,000 |
| 35 | Colorado | $93,623 | $55,000 | $158,000 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $92,681 | $58,000 | $147,000 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $92,075 | $55,000 | $154,000 |
| 38 | Florida | $89,628 | $50,000 | $158,000 |
| 39 | Montana | $88,745 | $54,000 | $143,000 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $87,464 | $49,000 | $153,000 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $86,314 | $50,000 | $148,000 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $84,922 | $50,000 | $141,000 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $82,387 | $49,000 | $135,000 |
| 44 | Missouri | $82,204 | $48,000 | $140,000 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $82,024 | $46,000 | $143,000 |
| 46 | Kansas | $79,199 | $46,000 | $135,000 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $77,935 | $44,000 | $136,000 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $76,353 | $50,000 | $116,000 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $71,149 | $40,000 | $125,000 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $62,546 | $36,000 | $108,000 |
Methodology: Executive Salary By State
To better understand executive compensation by state, Zippia has compiled data from a range of sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Commission (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). We also incorporate actual salaries from job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average based on these inputs to establish an average salary for executives by state.
We ranked the states based on average annual executive salaries derived from these comprehensive estimates.
Executive Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for executives?
The highest-paid state for executives is Rhode Island with an average salary of $149,785 per year.
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What city pays executives the most?
Providence, RI offers the highest executive salaries at an average of $153,126 per year.
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What is the worst state for executives?
The state with the lowest average salary for executives is Oklahoma, with an average of $62,546 per year.
Author
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.
