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Chief medical officer salary
Average chief medical officer salary
$228,710
Understanding Chief Medical Officer Salaries
The position of Chief Medical Officer is crucial in healthcare settings, responsible for guiding clinical practices and enhancing patient outcomes. As of October 2025, the average salary for a CMO in the United States is approximately $228,710 per year. This figure can vary significantly depending on factors such as experience, geographical location, and the healthcare sector in which one works.
Factors Influencing CMO Salaries
CMOs in higher-paying states, such as California and New York, tend to earn more due to the cost of living and demand for healthcare services. Additionally, those with extensive experience or specialized expertise may command higher salaries. Industries such as pharmaceuticals and biotechnology also offer competitive compensation for CMOs, highlighting the importance of industry choice for salary maximization.
Exploring Job Opportunities
For individuals considering a career as a Chief Medical Officer, it's essential to stay informed about salary trends and job openings. Utilizing platforms like Zippia can help job seekers find relevant positions and understand the salary landscape more comprehensively. This approach ensures you are well-equipped to make informed decisions about your career path.
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Where can a Chief Medical Officer earn more?
Chief medical officer salary estimates from across the web
Average chief medical officer salary by state
The average chief medical officer salary in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average chief medical officer salary states are New York, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for chief medical officers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $217,111 | $104.38 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $216,096 | $103.89 |
| 3 | Illinois | $216,019 | $103.86 |
| 4 | Missouri | $211,560 | $101.71 |
| 5 | Maine | $217,714 | $104.67 |
| 6 | Tennessee | $212,519 | $102.17 |
| 7 | Oregon | $223,113 | $107.27 |
| 8 | Alaska | $245,451 | $118.01 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $218,210 | $104.91 |
| 10 | Delaware | $213,587 | $102.69 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $219,934 | $105.74 |
| 12 | Nevada | $203,914 | $98.04 |
| 13 | Washington | $222,514 | $106.98 |
| 14 | Arizona | $208,587 | $100.28 |
| 15 | Ohio | $208,748 | $100.36 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $210,116 | $101.02 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $206,691 | $99.37 |
| 18 | South Carolina | $210,647 | $101.27 |
| 19 | Alabama | $197,812 | $95.10 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $200,876 | $96.58 |
| 21 | Iowa | $203,719 | $97.94 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $203,891 | $98.02 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $207,064 | $99.55 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $196,802 | $94.62 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $191,451 | $92.04 |
| 26 | Colorado | $206,648 | $99.35 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $187,816 | $90.30 |
| 28 | Georgia | $192,076 | $92.34 |
| 29 | California | $203,140 | $97.66 |
| 30 | Vermont | $201,041 | $96.65 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $200,412 | $96.35 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $192,114 | $92.36 |
| 33 | Virginia | $204,752 | $98.44 |
| 34 | Massachusetts | $195,065 | $93.78 |
| 35 | Utah | $200,502 | $96.40 |
| 36 | Connecticut | $195,000 | $93.75 |
| 37 | Montana | $197,116 | $94.77 |
| 38 | Texas | $190,052 | $91.37 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $179,267 | $86.19 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $185,817 | $89.34 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $179,238 | $86.17 |
| 42 | New York | $181,075 | $87.06 |
| 43 | Michigan | $187,513 | $90.15 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $185,143 | $89.01 |
| 45 | Maryland | $185,879 | $89.36 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $185,839 | $89.35 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $180,336 | $86.70 |
| 48 | Indiana | $181,832 | $87.42 |
| 49 | Kansas | $182,257 | $87.62 |
| 50 | Florida | $172,625 | $82.99 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $135,620 | $65.20 |
Highest paying cities for chief medical officers
The highest-paying cities for chief medical officers are Portland, OR, Bothell, WA, and Eden Prairie, MN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, OR | $298,373 | $143.45 |
| 2 | Bothell, WA | $292,611 | $140.68 |
| 3 | Eden Prairie, MN | $266,006 | $127.89 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $264,911 | $127.36 |
| 5 | Jackson, TN | $259,837 | $124.92 |
| 6 | Scottsdale, AZ | $250,148 | $120.26 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $249,696 | $120.05 |
| 8 | Reno, NV | $245,294 | $117.93 |
| 9 | San Francisco, CA | $241,974 | $116.33 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $239,557 | $115.17 |
| 11 | Richmond, VA | $235,662 | $113.30 |
| 12 | Dubuque, IA | $235,604 | $113.27 |
| 13 | Albuquerque, NM | $224,933 | $108.14 |
| 14 | Billings, MT | $221,922 | $106.69 |
| 15 | Dallas, TX | $214,957 | $103.34 |
| 16 | Hartford, CT | $214,662 | $103.20 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $214,497 | $103.12 |
| 18 | Cambridge, MA | $212,972 | $102.39 |
| 19 | Muskegon, MI | $205,944 | $99.01 |
| 20 | Charlotte, NC | $202,078 | $97.15 |
Chief medical officer salary details
A chief medical officer's salary ranges from $138,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $377,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a chief medical officer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $377,000 | $31,417 | $181 |
| 75th Percentile | $297,000 | $24,750 | $143 |
| Average | $228,710 | $19,059 | $110 |
| 25th Percentile | $175,000 | $14,583 | $84 |
| 10th Percentile | $138,000 | $11,500 | $66 |
Highest paying chief medical officer jobs
The highest paying types of chief medical officers are president/chief executive officer, medical director, and executive vice president.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division Director | $120,757 | $10,063 | $58.06 | 63,545 |
| Vice President | $158,637 | $13,220 | $76.27 | 119,530 |
| Vice President Of Programming | $142,967 | $11,914 | $68.73 | 46,296 |
| Vice President & General Manager | $172,487 | $14,374 | $82.93 | 252,313 |
| Division Vice President | $158,729 | $13,227 | $76.31 | 68,176 |
| Corporate Vice President | $165,788 | $13,816 | $79.71 | 69,051 |
Top companies hiring chief medical officers now:
Which companies pay chief medical officers the most?
Chief medical officer salaries at UnitedHealth Group and Community Health Systems are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average chief medical officer salary at companies like The Iowa Clinic and Trinity Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UnitedHealth Group | $305,515 | $146.88 |
| 2 | Community Health Systems | $280,788 | $134.99 |
| 3 | The Iowa Clinic | $280,423 | $134.82 |
| 4 | Trinity Health | $270,465 | $130.03 |
| 5 | Alameda Health System | $270,135 | $129.87 |
| 6 | Neighborhood Health | $265,580 | $127.68 |
| 7 | McKinsey & Company Inc | $265,454 | $127.62 |
| 8 | Aurora Health Care | $265,341 | $127.57 |
| 9 | Sharp HealthCare | $265,326 | $127.56 |
| 10 | RWJBarnabas Health | $262,355 | $126.13 |
| 11 | Washington State Medical Association | $262,195 | $126.06 |
| 12 | The Reserves Network | $262,155 | $126.04 |
| 13 | Baptist Health Care | $260,474 | $125.23 |
| 14 | Appalachian Regional Healthcare | $259,783 | $124.90 |
| 15 | Logan Health | $257,252 | $123.68 |
| 16 | Maine Behavioral Healthcare | $256,934 | $123.53 |
| 17 | NYC Health + Hospitals | $256,743 | $123.43 |
| 18 | OSF HealthCare | $256,714 | $123.42 |
| 19 | Aspirus | $256,161 | $123.15 |
| 20 | Presbyterian | $254,660 | $122.43 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Chief Medical Officer salary by industry
The average chief medical officer salary varies across industries:
- The average chief medical officer salary in the health care industry is $202,848, the highest of any industry.
- The average chief medical officer salary in the finance industry is $193,625.
- Chief medical officers in the finance industry earn an average salary of $178,508, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for chief medical officers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care | $202,848 | $97.52 |
| 2 | Pharmaceutical | $193,625 | $93.09 |
| 3 | Professional | $189,252 | $90.99 |
| 4 | Government | $180,698 | $86.87 |
| 5 | Finance | $178,508 | $85.82 |
High paying chief medical officer jobs
Chief medical officer salary trends
The average chief medical officer salary has risen by $39,215 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average chief medical officer earned $189,495 annually, but today, they earn $228,710 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for chief medical officers over the last decade.
Compare chief medical officer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average chief medical officer salary over time
Compare chief medical officer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Chief medical officer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $229,000 | $109.96 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | $221,000 | $106.48 | +1.2% |
| 2024 | $219,000 | $105.16 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $216,000 | $103.70 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $212,000 | $101.80 | +2.1% |
Recently added chief medical officer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hackensack Meridian Health | Vice President, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Carrier Clinic Chair, Psychiatry Chair | Belle Mead, NJ | 06/30/2025 | $383,406 |
| Hartford Dispensary | Chief Medical Officer | Manchester, CT | 06/26/2025 | $350,000 |
| Kumquat Biosciences Inc. | Chief Medical Officer | San Diego, CA | 06/23/2025 | $350,000 |
| Unitedhealth Group | Community and State Health Plan Chief Medical Officer-Washington-Remote | Seattle, WA | 06/21/2025 | $278,000 |
| Bartz-Altadonna Community Health Center | Chief Medical Officer | Lancaster, CA | 06/21/2025 | $280,000 |
| Thevetrecruiter.com | Chief Medical Officer Syracuse, NY #5703 | East Syracuse, NY | 06/21/2025 | $100,000 |
| HCA Healthcare | Chief Medical Officer | Las Vegas, NV | 06/20/2025 | $256,672 |
| State of Virginia | Psychiatrist-Assistant Chief Medical Officer | Petersburg, VA | 06/17/2025 | $270,709 |
| Root Center | Chief Medical Officer | Manchester, CT | 06/16/2025 | $350,000 |
| Takeda | Chief Medical Officer, Global Oncology Business Unit | Cambridge, MA | 06/15/2025 | $336,000 |
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