CEO salary
From 731 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 11-1011: Chief Executives
- Also filed as: Chief Executive
At a glance
- Mostly Level I (entry-level). 34% of CEO filings are Level I, compared with 19% across all H-1B filings.
- Median up 19% since FY2020. From $218,304 in FY2020 to $259,000 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
CEO H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 731 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for CEO jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 11-1011, Chief Executives). The median base salary is $239,200, 95% above the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $154,431 and $310,000. The most common wage level is Level I (entry-level), at 34% of filings.
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 34% of filings
Mid-level · 33% of filings
Senior · 17% of filings
Expert · 16% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $137,076 | 216 |
| Level II · Qualified | $228,218 | 209 |
| Level III · Experienced | $306,567 | 108 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $404,963 | 98 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
CEO pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 16 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $262,288 | 76 |
| San Francisco, CA | $236,900 | 67 |
| Miami, FL | $262,101 | 61 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $211,890 | 38 |
| Houston, TX | $228,696 | 36 |
| Dallas, TX | $300,000 | 35 |
| San Jose, CA | $241,883 | 33 |
| Austin, TX | $220,750 | 30 |
| Atlanta, GA | $173,634 | 22 |
| Washington, DC | $315,000 | 22 |
| Chicago, IL | $300,000 | 21 |
| Boston, MA | $229,109 | 20 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $200,000 | 17 |
| Orlando, FL | $146,411 | 13 |
| San Diego, CA | $282,443 | 13 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $250,000 | 11 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a CEO does
Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.
Typical tasks
- Direct or coordinate an organization's financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.
- Confer with board members, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems.
- Prepare budgets for approval, including those for funding or implementation of programs.
- Direct, plan, or implement policies, objectives, or activities of organizations or businesses to ensure continuing operations, to maximize returns on investments, or to increase productivity.
- Prepare or present reports concerning activities, expenses, budgets, government statutes or rulings, or other items affecting businesses or program services.
- Implement corrective action plans to solve organizational or departmental problems.
Preparation
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
O*NET occupation: Chief Executives (11-1011.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Chief Executives), the median annual wage was $213,990 in May 2025, with 204,350 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $239,200, 12% higher.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $124,000 | $75,700 |
| 25th percentile | $154,431 | $129,540 |
| Median | $239,200 | $213,990 |
| 75th percentile | $310,000 | $239,200+ |
| 90th percentile | $400,000 | $239,200+ |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $124,000 |
| 25th | $154,431 |
| 50th (median) | $239,200 |
| 75th | $310,000 |
| 90th | $400,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $218,304 | $171,558 | $277,467 | 242 |
| FY2021 | $218,000 | $175,455 | $286,349 | 244 |
| FY2022 | $225,000 | $180,939 | $300,000 | 285 |
| FY2023 | $240,000 | $180,000 | $303,040 | 264 |
| FY2024 | $239,200 | $169,653 | $300,000 | 331 |
| FY2025 | $214,704 | $148,450 | $300,000 | 490 |
| FY2026 | $259,000 | $206,000 | $338,180 | 241 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B CEO make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for CEO jobs is $239,200 (731 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $154,431 and $310,000.
What does an entry-level CEO earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $137,076. Level I accounts for 34% of CEO filings.
Do H-1B CEOs earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($239,200) is 12% higher than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($213,990, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.