Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Founder and chief executive officer salary
Average founder and chief executive officer salary
$171,886
Average Founder and Chief Executive Officer Salary
The average salary for a Founder and Chief Executive Officer is approximately $171,886 per year, translating to about $83 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on several factors, including experience, industry, and location. For instance, CEOs in technology and finance sectors often command higher salaries compared to those in non-profit organizations.
Salary by State
In states like California and New York, salaries can exceed the national average due to the higher cost of living and competitive job markets. Conversely, states with lower living costs tend to offer lower salaries.
Highest Paying Cities
Key cities such as San Francisco, New York City, and Boston are known for offering some of the highest salaries in this role. As companies strive to attract top talent, understanding these geographical trends is essential for candidates seeking to maximize their earning potential.
Let Zippi find your next founder and chief executive officer job
Let Zippi find your next founder and chief executive officer job
Where can a Founder And Chief Executive Officer earn more?
Average founder and chief executive officer salary by state
The highest-paying states for founder and chief executive officers are New Jersey, New York, and Alaska. The lowest average founder and chief executive officer salary states are Arkansas, Indiana, and Tennessee.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for founder and chief executive officers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $198,037 | $95.21 |
| 2 | Nevada | $170,108 | $81.78 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $175,624 | $84.43 |
| 4 | Washington | $179,376 | $86.24 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $174,337 | $83.82 |
| 6 | Arizona | $158,406 | $76.16 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $156,530 | $75.25 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $172,240 | $82.81 |
| 9 | Texas | $158,068 | $75.99 |
| 10 | New York | $192,399 | $92.50 |
| 11 | Michigan | $168,666 | $81.09 |
| 12 | Illinois | $156,345 | $75.17 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $154,266 | $74.17 |
| 14 | Alaska | $189,000 | $90.87 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $196,875 | $94.65 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $150,802 | $72.50 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $152,190 | $73.17 |
| 18 | California | $168,362 | $80.94 |
| 19 | Delaware | $159,433 | $76.65 |
| 20 | Ohio | $141,678 | $68.11 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $145,505 | $69.95 |
| 22 | Alabama | $142,511 | $68.51 |
| 23 | Georgia | $138,743 | $66.70 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $132,553 | $63.73 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $137,383 | $66.05 |
| 26 | Maine | $142,900 | $68.70 |
| 27 | Idaho | $128,617 | $61.84 |
| 28 | Virginia | $154,152 | $74.11 |
| 29 | Colorado | $135,726 | $65.25 |
| 30 | Maryland | $140,726 | $67.66 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $160,380 | $77.11 |
| 32 | Florida | $146,693 | $70.53 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $133,540 | $64.20 |
| 34 | Missouri | $132,902 | $63.90 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $133,327 | $64.10 |
| 36 | Iowa | $133,073 | $63.98 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $129,294 | $62.16 |
| 38 | Vermont | $122,642 | $58.96 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $110,060 | $52.91 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $118,754 | $57.09 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $114,622 | $55.11 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | $118,254 | $56.85 |
| 43 | Oregon | $129,865 | $62.44 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $117,757 | $56.61 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $115,964 | $55.75 |
| 46 | Montana | $120,928 | $58.14 |
| 47 | Utah | $117,293 | $56.39 |
| 48 | Indiana | $111,437 | $53.58 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $90,731 | $43.62 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $97,854 | $47.05 |
| 51 | Kansas | $107,329 | $51.60 |
Highest paying cities for founder and chief executive officers
The highest-paying cities for founder and chief executive officers are New York, NY, Menlo Park, CA, and Palo Alto, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $218,731 | $105.16 |
| 2 | Menlo Park, CA | $190,354 | $91.52 |
| 3 | Palo Alto, CA | $190,317 | $91.50 |
| 4 | Mountain View, CA | $190,311 | $91.50 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $190,273 | $91.48 |
| 6 | Pleasanton, CA | $189,633 | $91.17 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $188,342 | $90.55 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $168,296 | $80.91 |
| 9 | Tulsa, OK | $96,326 | $46.31 |
Founder and chief executive officer salary details
A founder and chief executive officer's salary ranges from $107,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $275,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a founder and chief executive officer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $275,000 | $22,917 | $132 |
| 75th Percentile | $220,000 | $18,333 | $106 |
| Average | $171,886 | $14,324 | $83 |
| 25th Percentile | $134,000 | $11,167 | $64 |
| 10th Percentile | $107,000 | $8,917 | $51 |
Highest paying founder and chief executive officer jobs
The highest paying types of founder and chief executive officers are president/chief executive officer, senior vice president, and president.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entrepreneur | $70,849 | $5,904 | $34.06 | 34,711 |
| Vice President, Business Development | $165,159 | $13,763 | $79.40 | 188,137 |
| Managing Partner | $147,401 | $12,283 | $70.87 | 66,916 |
| Owner | $90,334 | $7,528 | $43.43 | 86,486 |
| Vice President | $158,637 | $13,220 | $76.27 | 119,530 |
| Board Member | $70,751 | $5,896 | $34.01 | 7,581 |
Top companies hiring founder and chief executive officers now:
Which companies pay founder and chief executive officers the most?
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UpGuard | $195,315 | $93.90 |
| 2 | Career Company in Silicon Valley | $187,180 | $89.99 |
| 3 | Village Green | $40,781 | $19.61 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Founder And Chief Executive Officer salary by industry
The average founder and chief executive officer salary varies across industries:
- The average founder and chief executive officer salary in the energy industry is $181,338, the highest of any industry.
- The average founder and chief executive officer salary in the finance industry is $159,440.
- Founder and chief executive officers in the media industry earn an average salary of $131,287, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for founder and chief executive officers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy | $181,338 | $87.18 |
| 2 | Start-up | $159,440 | $76.65 |
| 3 | Professional | $153,523 | $73.81 |
| 4 | Technology | $152,535 | $73.33 |
| 5 | Finance | $151,461 | $72.82 |
| 6 | Manufacturing | $146,782 | $70.57 |
| 7 | Media | $131,287 | $63.12 |
High paying founder and chief executive officer jobs
Founder and chief executive officer salary trends
The average founder and chief executive officer salary has risen by $17,600 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average founder and chief executive officer earned $154,286 annually, but today, they earn $171,886 a year. That works out to a 3% change in pay for founder and chief executive officers over the last decade.
Compare founder and chief executive officer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average founder and chief executive officer salary over time
Compare founder and chief executive officer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Founder and chief executive officer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $172,000 | $82.64 | +0.8% |
| 2024 | $171,000 | $81.98 | -2.8% |
| 2023 | $175,000 | $84.26 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $169,000 | $81.45 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $168,000 | $80.53 | +3.4% |
Recently added founder and chief executive officer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optica Labs | Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder | New York, NY | 03/06/2025 | $148,450 |
| Optica Labs | Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder | New York, NY | 03/06/2025 | $148,450 |
| Marble | Co-Founder In Residence, CEO, Advanced Copper Recycling Featured | Ione, OR | 02/17/2025 | $264,575 |
| Ylink LLC | Co-Founder and CEO | Orlando, FL | 02/11/2025 | $107,063 |
| Ettitude Holdings, Inc. | CEO & Founder | Los Angeles, CA | 01/28/2025 | $250,000 |
| Ettitude Holdings, Inc. | CEO & Founder | Los Angeles, CA | 01/21/2025 | $250,000 |
| Matchstick | Co-Founder/Ceo | Denver, CO | 01/13/2025 | $100,000 |
| Marble | Co-Founder In Residence, CEO, Enteric Methane Featured | Ione, OR | 12/10/2024 | $264,575 |
| Cerqular, Inc. | Chief Commercial Officer, Co-Ceo & Co-Founder | Los Angeles, CA | 11/20/2024 | $108,500 |
| Jingo Technologies, Inc. | Co-Founder, CEO and CPO | San Francisco, CA | 11/08/2024 | $150,000 |
Founder and chief executive officer salary FAQs
Search for founder and chief executive officer jobs