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In the realm of Private Sector Executives, the average salary stands at $101,637 per year. This figure reflects a range of factors including experience, education, and the specific industry sector. For instance, executives in technology or finance may see higher salaries compared to those in non-profit sectors. Geographic location plays a significant role; states such as California and New York typically offer more competitive compensation.
Furthermore, cities like San Francisco and New York City boast some of the highest salaries for private sector executives, with opportunities for bonuses and profit-sharing enhancing overall compensation. As the demand for skilled leaders continues to rise, executives with strong track records in management and strategic planning find themselves in particularly advantageous positions.
To maximize earning potential, professionals should consider pursuing advanced degrees, certifications, and continuous professional development. Understanding the nuances of the job market can help executives navigate their career paths and negotiate better salary packages.
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The highest-paying states for private sector executives are New York, New Jersey, and Maryland. The lowest average private sector executive salary states are Idaho, Utah, and Kansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $125,496 | $60.33 |
| 2 | Nevada | $115,373 | $55.47 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $109,817 | $52.80 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $113,346 | $54.49 |
| 5 | Maryland | $121,618 | $58.47 |
| 6 | Delaware | $114,353 | $54.98 |
| 7 | Texas | $100,765 | $48.44 |
| 8 | Ohio | $111,114 | $53.42 |
| 9 | Missouri | $101,334 | $48.72 |
| 10 | Washington | $106,363 | $51.14 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $99,400 | $47.79 |
| 12 | Virginia | $106,311 | $51.11 |
| 13 | New York | $129,005 | $62.02 |
| 14 | Arizona | $99,895 | $48.03 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $99,620 | $47.89 |
| 16 | Illinois | $96,517 | $46.40 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $96,359 | $46.33 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $115,134 | $55.35 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $99,007 | $47.60 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $92,048 | $44.25 |
| 21 | Michigan | $94,189 | $45.28 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $90,981 | $43.74 |
| 23 | California | $109,632 | $52.71 |
| 24 | Georgia | $90,497 | $43.51 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $92,661 | $44.55 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $91,337 | $43.91 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $89,744 | $43.15 |
| 28 | Iowa | $90,141 | $43.34 |
| 29 | Oregon | $96,145 | $46.22 |
| 30 | Colorado | $84,319 | $40.54 |
| 31 | Alaska | $94,509 | $45.44 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $82,575 | $39.70 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $87,200 | $41.92 |
| 34 | Vermont | $82,906 | $39.86 |
| 35 | Alabama | $89,398 | $42.98 |
| 36 | Florida | $83,330 | $40.06 |
| 37 | Montana | $75,975 | $36.53 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $83,519 | $40.15 |
| 39 | Indiana | $80,613 | $38.76 |
| 40 | Utah | $71,462 | $34.36 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $76,178 | $36.62 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $77,539 | $37.28 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $78,300 | $37.64 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $79,544 | $38.24 |
| 45 | Idaho | $72,265 | $34.74 |
| 46 | Kansas | $70,251 | $33.77 |
| 47 | Maine | $76,816 | $36.93 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $76,194 | $36.63 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $59,564 | $28.64 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $51,466 | $24.74 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $59,287 | $28.50 |
The highest-paying cities for private sector executives are New York, NY, Baltimore, MD, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $143,226 | $68.86 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $130,496 | $62.74 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $121,403 | $58.37 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $120,757 | $58.06 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $117,687 | $56.58 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $117,415 | $56.45 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $115,341 | $55.45 |
| 8 | McLean, VA | $110,727 | $53.23 |
| 9 | Saint Louis, MO | $106,508 | $51.21 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $104,475 | $50.23 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $103,932 | $49.97 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $99,069 | $47.63 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $93,696 | $45.05 |
| 14 | Alpharetta, GA | $93,067 | $44.74 |
| 15 | Cary, NC | $93,046 | $44.73 |
| 16 | Charleston, WV | $92,247 | $44.35 |
| 17 | Palm Coast, FL | $88,818 | $42.70 |
| 18 | Denver, CO | $85,413 | $41.06 |
| 19 | Franklin, TN | $76,726 | $36.89 |
A private sector executive's salary ranges from $50,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $204,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $204,000 | $17,000 | $98 |
| 75th Percentile | $146,000 | $12,167 | $70 |
| Average | $101,637 | $8,470 | $49 |
| 25th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| 10th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
The highest paying types of private sector executives are president/chief executive officer, executive vice president, and senior vice president.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Client Account Manager | $69,699 | $5,808 | $33.51 | 128,665 |
| Co-Founder | $105,022 | $8,752 | $50.49 | 4,214 |
| Co-Owner | $86,704 | $7,225 | $41.68 | 52,915 |
| Owner | $90,334 | $7,528 | $43.43 | 86,486 |
| Operations Vice President | $163,076 | $13,590 | $78.40 | 147,465 |
| Client Relations Manager | $85,115 | $7,093 | $40.92 | 76,482 |
Top companies hiring private sector executives now:
Private sector executive salaries at Watson Laboratories and Novartis are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average private sector executive salary at companies like Ernst & Young and JPMorgan Chase & Co. are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Watson Laboratories | $127,444 | $61.27 |
| 2 | Novartis | $126,155 | $60.65 |
| 3 | Ernst & Young | $115,483 | $55.52 |
| 4 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $114,828 | $55.21 |
| 5 | Ingram Micro | $110,927 | $53.33 |
| 6 | United Nations Foundation | $110,298 | $53.03 |
| 7 | Peraton | $105,393 | $50.67 |
| 8 | Chubb | $104,189 | $50.09 |
| 9 | Wellington Group | $102,890 | $49.47 |
| 10 | Pm Consulting Corp | $101,887 | $48.98 |
| 11 | Bank of America | $101,203 | $48.66 |
| 12 | The Hartford | $98,818 | $47.51 |
| 13 | Capital One | $96,566 | $46.43 |
| 14 | GALE | $93,533 | $44.97 |
| 15 | Amazon | $91,103 | $43.80 |
| 16 | Verizon Communications | $88,638 | $42.61 |
| 17 | Wellington Management | $83,569 | $40.18 |
| 18 | State of Arizona | $34,637 | $16.65 |
The average private sector executive salary has risen by $10,407 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average private sector executive earned $91,230 annually, but today, they earn $101,637 a year. That works out to a 3% change in pay for private sector executives over the last decade.
Compare private sector executive salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare private sector executive salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $102,000 | $48.86 | +0.8% |
| 2024 | $101,000 | $48.47 | -2.8% |
| 2023 | $104,000 | $49.82 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $100,000 | $48.16 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $99,000 | $47.62 | +3.4% |
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