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The role of a Chief Executive Officer and Operator is critical in shaping a company's strategy and overseeing its operations. As of October 2025, the average salary stands at $169,303 annually. Salaries can differ based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry sector.
In various states, salaries range significantly. For instance, states with high living costs tend to offer higher salaries. Cities like San Francisco and New York often lead in compensation, reflecting their dynamic job markets. Additionally, seniority and educational background can impact earnings within this role.
As businesses continue to evolve, the demand for skilled Chief Executive Officers and Operators is likely to increase, presenting numerous opportunities. By understanding salary trends and regional differences, job seekers can better position themselves in the market.
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The average chief executive officer and operator salary in Nevada, New York, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average chief executive officer and operator salary states are Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Iowa.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $176,573 | $84.89 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $171,791 | $82.59 |
| 3 | New York | $176,335 | $84.78 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $163,273 | $78.50 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $177,555 | $85.36 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $153,014 | $73.56 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $166,520 | $80.06 |
| 8 | Virginia | $160,216 | $77.03 |
| 9 | Texas | $151,490 | $72.83 |
| 10 | Arizona | $147,839 | $71.08 |
| 11 | Illinois | $147,993 | $71.15 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $171,772 | $82.58 |
| 13 | Delaware | $153,352 | $73.73 |
| 14 | Washington | $153,131 | $73.62 |
| 15 | Michigan | $141,720 | $68.13 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $141,686 | $68.12 |
| 17 | Vermont | $136,724 | $65.73 |
| 18 | Georgia | $133,626 | $64.24 |
| 19 | Ohio | $138,059 | $66.37 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $137,157 | $65.94 |
| 21 | Maryland | $136,687 | $65.71 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $140,905 | $67.74 |
| 23 | California | $158,911 | $76.40 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $134,521 | $64.67 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $126,702 | $60.91 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $117,404 | $56.44 |
| 27 | Alaska | $131,178 | $63.07 |
| 28 | Colorado | $118,183 | $56.82 |
| 29 | Oregon | $136,402 | $65.58 |
| 30 | Alabama | $120,848 | $58.10 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $124,705 | $59.95 |
| 32 | Maine | $114,496 | $55.05 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $120,174 | $57.78 |
| 34 | Florida | $131,709 | $63.32 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $110,923 | $53.33 |
| 36 | Idaho | $101,198 | $48.65 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $102,350 | $49.21 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $118,131 | $56.79 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $101,188 | $48.65 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $105,292 | $50.62 |
| 41 | Indiana | $101,618 | $48.85 |
| 42 | Missouri | $100,499 | $48.32 |
| 43 | Utah | $106,754 | $51.32 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $99,506 | $47.84 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $99,200 | $47.69 |
| 46 | Iowa | $93,639 | $45.02 |
| 47 | Kansas | $88,749 | $42.67 |
| 48 | Montana | $99,266 | $47.72 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $96,884 | $46.58 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $93,105 | $44.76 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $81,212 | $39.04 |
The highest-paying cities for chief executive officer and operators are New York, NY, Jersey City, NJ, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $197,514 | $94.96 |
| 2 | Jersey City, NJ | $190,471 | $91.57 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $176,921 | $85.06 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $173,206 | $83.27 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $165,294 | $79.47 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $147,799 | $71.06 |
| 7 | Jackson, MI | $142,593 | $68.55 |
| 8 | Plantation, FL | $137,726 | $66.21 |
| 9 | Minnetonka, MN | $117,196 | $56.34 |
A chief executive officer and operator's salary ranges from $95,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $300,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $300,000 | $25,000 | $144 |
| 75th Percentile | $229,000 | $19,083 | $110 |
| Average | $169,303 | $14,109 | $81 |
| 25th Percentile | $125,000 | $10,417 | $60 |
| 10th Percentile | $95,000 | $7,917 | $46 |
The highest paying types of chief executive officer and operators are president/chief executive officer, executive vice president, and president & chief operating officer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operations Vice President | $163,076 | $13,590 | $78.40 | 147,465 |
| Division Director | $120,757 | $10,063 | $58.06 | 63,545 |
| Managing Director | $129,690 | $10,808 | $62.35 | 81,022 |
| Operations Director | $104,050 | $8,671 | $50.02 | 114,993 |
| Head Operator | $138,787 | $11,566 | $66.72 | 101,974 |
| Regional Director Of Operations | $115,156 | $9,596 | $55.36 | 130,533 |
Top companies hiring chief executive officer and operators now:
Chief executive officer and operator salaries at BNY Mellon and Accenture are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average chief executive officer and operator salary at companies like Carlson Companies and CVS Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BNY Mellon | $188,602 | $90.67 |
| 2 | Accenture | $174,589 | $83.94 |
| 3 | Carlson Companies | $154,883 | $74.46 |
| 4 | CVS Health | $146,822 | $70.59 |
| 5 | LifeWays | $136,877 | $65.81 |
| 6 | Cigna | $113,142 | $54.40 |
| 7 | Universal Health Services | $102,930 | $49.49 |
The average chief executive officer and operator salary has risen by $17,336 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average chief executive officer and operator earned $151,967 annually, but today, they earn $169,303 a year. That works out to a 3% change in pay for chief executive officer and operators over the last decade.
Compare chief executive officer and operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare chief executive officer and operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $169,000 | $81.40 | +0.8% |
| 2024 | $168,000 | $80.74 | -2.8% |
| 2023 | $173,000 | $82.99 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $167,000 | $80.22 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $165,000 | $79.32 | +3.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planet Payment | Executive Operations Partner, CEO | San Francisco, CA | 06/29/2025 | $114,200 |
| Netapp | Strategy & Operations Senior Associate-Office of The CEO | San Jose, CA | 06/24/2025 | $138,000 |
| Think Together | Executive Administrative Assistant COO | Santa Ana, CA | 06/10/2025 | $80,000 |
| Planet Payment | Executive Operations Partner, CEO | San Francisco, CA | 05/28/2025 | $114,200 |
| Handshake | Strategy & Operations Manager, Office of The CEO | San Francisco, CA | 05/28/2025 | $170,000 |
| Morgan Stanley | Risk COO (Risk Management) : Job Level-Executive Director | New York, NY | 05/23/2025 | $165,000 |
| Think Together | Executive Administrative Assistant COO | Santa Ana, CA | 05/18/2025 | $80,000 |
| Planet Labs | Executive Operations Partner, CEO | San Francisco, CA | 05/09/2025 | $114,200 |
| Medtronic Inc. | SR. Communications Generalist-CEO Communications & Operations | Minneapolis, MN | 04/28/2025 | $82,400 |
| Think Together | Executive Consultant To COO | Santa Ana, CA | 04/28/2025 | $145,000 |
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