Chief Executives pay in California
In California, the median pay for chief executives is $105.10 an hour ($218,600 a year). About 34,700 people work in this job there.
That is 2% higher than the U.S. median ($213,990). California ranks 17th of 46 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for chief executives in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $41.25 | $85,790 |
| 25% of workers | $64.23 | $133,610 |
| Half of workers (median) | $105.10 | $218,600 |
| 75% of workers | $168.79 | $351,090 |
| 90% of workers | $234.05 | $486,830 |
Chief Executives pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $288,690 | 5,190 |
| Napa | $241,590 | 150 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $238,440 | 2,710 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $234,290 | 10,800 |
| Salinas | $226,270 | 220 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $218,690 | 350 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $214,340 | 310 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $209,080 | 220 |
| Yuba City | $209,060 | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $202,750 | 430 |
| Modesto | $200,900 | 230 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $195,650 | 360 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $195,400 | 390 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $190,020 | 180 |
| Fresno | $188,930 | 700 |
| Merced | $181,660 | 100 |
| Vallejo | $180,180 | 180 |
| El Centro | $177,950 | 60 |
| Chico | $176,750 | 130 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $176,700 | 1,920 |
| Redding | $170,770 | 110 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $169,770 | 3,680 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $160,950 | 50 |
| Visalia | $155,510 | 210 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for chief executives
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Experience usually needed to start: 5 years or more (BLS)
- Job outlook: +3.2% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 19,100 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $124,390 |
Other job titles for this job
Open chief executives jobs on JAI Bot
No open jobs in this field right now. Search all jobs or set up a free job alert.
Hiring chief executives? Use the free hiring guide for a job description and interview questions, then post the job on JAI Bot. Every job shows typical pay to job seekers.
Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: 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. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.