Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Chief executives (SOC 11-1011) employed 204,350 people in May 2025. The median pay is $213,990 a year ($102.88 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $75,700 and the highest-paid 10% more than $507,730. BLS projects its employment to change by +3.2% between 2025 and 2035 (about 19,100 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Bachelor's degree, with 5 years or more experience in a related occupation.
Highest median pay: Oregon ($341,630), Washington ($339,810), Illinois ($331,920). Most jobs: California (34,700), Pennsylvania (8,850), Texas (8,780).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,700 | $36.39 |
| 25th percentile | $129,540 | $62.28 |
| Median | $213,990 | $102.88 |
| Mean | $269,630 | $129.63 |
| 75th percentile | $356,200 | $171.25 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $507,730 | $244.10 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 291,600 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 300,900 |
| Change in jobs | 9,300 |
| Percent change | +3.2% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 19,100 |
| Self-employed share | 26.6% |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | 5 years or more |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 810 | 0.29 | $166,420 | $101,670 | $317,400 | -22% | 8% |
| Alaska | 640 | 1.51 | $166,710 | $75,870 | $428,990 | -22% | 10% |
| Arkansas | 3,550 | 2.07 | $119,990 | $49,830 | $330,480 | -44% | 10% |
| California | 34,700 | 1.45 | $218,600 | $85,790 | $486,830 | +2% | 12% |
| Connecticut | 1,660 | 0.74 | $295,120 | $156,680 | $680,080 | +38% | 6% |
| Delaware | 390 | 0.61 | $199,990 | $119,990 | $523,940 | -7% | 9% |
| Georgia | 4,080 | 0.63 | $208,180 | $57,290 | $517,910 | -3% | 9% |
| Hawaii | 470 | 0.57 | $281,640 | $100,030 | $493,870 | +32% | 8% |
| Idaho | 2,920 | 2.59 | $177,210 | $103,360 | $403,230 | -17% | 9% |
| Illinois | 4,620 | 0.58 | $331,920 | $133,170 | $589,720 | +55% | 5% |
| Indiana | 1,820 | 0.43 | $254,180 | $97,340 | $494,080 | +19% | 5% |
| Iowa | 3,050 | 1.49 | $211,190 | $86,090 | $365,320 | -1% | 6% |
| Kansas | 1,960 | 1.04 | $158,100 | $51,120 | $453,350 | -26% | 8% |
| Kentucky | 2,070 | 0.79 | $179,530 | $72,800 | $466,660 | -16% | 7% |
| Maine | 1,580 | 1.88 | $138,770 | $73,680 | $401,950 | -35% | 10% |
| Maryland | 3,180 | 0.88 | $248,660 | $139,990 | $486,860 | +16% | 8% |
| Massachusetts | 6,590 | 1.38 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Michigan | 4,950 | 0.86 | $255,560 | $104,010 | $547,090 | +19% | 5% |
| Minnesota | 6,740 | 1.74 | $195,670 | $92,540 | $449,270 | -9% | 8% |
| Mississippi | 310 | 0.20 | $139,250 | $101,930 | $304,040 | -35% | 9% |
| Missouri | 2,550 | 0.66 | $172,320 | $75,040 | $416,060 | -19% | 7% |
| Montana | 670 | 1.00 | $182,340 | $73,970 | $432,240 | -15% | 8% |
| Nebraska | 2,510 | 1.87 | $214,680 | $107,200 | $515,360 | +0% | 6% |
| Nevada | 1,370 | 0.67 | $149,770 | $58,670 | $517,310 | -30% | 14% |
| New Jersey | 2,430 | 0.43 | $310,440 | $173,560 | $666,030 | +45% | 7% |
| New Mexico | 100 | 0.09 | $123,500 | $43,710 | $302,440 | -42% | 11% |
| New York | 8,430 | 0.66 | $257,980 | $140,410 | $657,630 | +21% | 8% |
| North Carolina | 1,930 | 0.30 | $314,290 | $114,210 | $624,990 | +47% | 5% |
| North Dakota | 380 | 0.67 | $164,560 | $104,590 | $464,030 | -23% | 7% |
| Ohio | 4,470 | 0.61 | $176,440 | $79,390 | $484,820 | -18% | 7% |
| Oklahoma | 2,390 | 1.07 | $163,790 | $68,630 | $387,310 | -23% | 8% |
| Oregon | 910 | 0.35 | $341,630 | $179,550 | $772,840 | +60% | 6% |
| Pennsylvania | 8,850 | 1.11 | $232,560 | $118,810 | $528,200 | +9% | 6% |
| Rhode Island | 460 | 0.70 | $235,360 | $113,970 | $561,080 | +10% | 7% |
| South Carolina | 1,740 | 0.57 | $168,840 | $49,760 | $393,490 | -21% | 9% |
| South Dakota | 510 | 0.84 | $280,900 | $175,590 | $546,760 | +31% | 4% |
| Tennessee | 4,700 | 1.09 | $198,830 | $64,520 | $474,740 | -7% | 8% |
| Texas | 8,780 | 0.47 | $257,850 | $121,130 | $558,550 | +20% | 7% |
| Utah | 3,140 | 1.38 | $171,880 | $72,480 | $424,690 | -20% | 11% |
| Vermont | 360 | 0.89 | $175,070 | $108,300 | $428,080 | -18% | 9% |
| Virginia | 4,870 | 0.90 | $310,740 | $130,000 | $604,090 | +45% | 6% |
| Washington | 3,170 | 0.68 | $339,810 | $160,110 | $607,100 | +59% | 6% |
| West Virginia | 1,700 | 1.84 | $151,950 | $72,160 | $403,020 | -29% | 7% |
| Wyoming | 60 | 0.17 | $147,940 | $34,690 | $276,940 | -31% | 8% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 480 | $388,060 | $174,990 | $785,860 | 0.91 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 690 | $375,810 | $191,880 | $772,850 | 0.43 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,060 | $370,000 | $187,890 | $607,100 | 0.75 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 3,610 | $344,960 | $142,940 | $599,520 | 0.61 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 740 | $329,030 | $114,100 | $599,990 | 0.41 |
| Richmond, VA | 820 | $326,160 | $130,130 | $558,600 | 0.94 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,580 | $320,060 | $134,660 | $589,770 | 0.49 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 340 | $315,920 | $132,650 | $520,900 | 0.58 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 2,070 | $304,110 | $112,220 | $604,220 | 0.83 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 7,180 | $301,440 | $164,740 | $709,670 | 0.58 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 530 | $297,350 | $124,010 | $612,350 | 0.53 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 4,120 | $292,770 | $124,800 | $546,180 | 1.08 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 1,230 | $290,870 | $96,550 | $390,260 | 2.31 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 5,190 | $288,690 | $100,340 | $558,310 | 1.66 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 950 | $288,150 | $126,800 | $647,020 | 0.56 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 360 | $286,050 | $114,160 | $664,790 | 0.36 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 400 | $279,080 | $110,590 | $564,510 | 0.82 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 2,350 | $275,820 | $97,090 | $581,990 | 0.62 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,920 | $275,270 | $121,650 | $633,110 | 0.44 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 1,970 | $268,030 | $156,010 | $486,310 | 1.11 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 560 | $256,610 | $129,800 | $545,130 | 0.38 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 870 | $256,320 | $97,840 | $511,000 | 0.60 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 470 | $254,180 | $140,690 | $601,760 | 0.59 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 540 | $248,660 | $113,910 | $518,790 | 0.69 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 650 | $243,620 | $113,970 | $552,750 | 0.69 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 420 | $239,990 | $139,980 | $621,830 | 0.59 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 2,710 | $238,440 | $85,510 | $493,480 | 1.34 |
| Gainesville, FL | 330 | $238,200 | $77,040 | $640,040 | 1.66 |
| Rochester, NY | 370 | $237,180 | $150,510 | $786,180 | 0.56 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 10,800 | $234,290 | $101,250 | $522,060 | 1.31 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 1,330 | $228,220 | $105,770 | $530,980 | 2.03 |
| Green Bay, WI | 390 | $222,320 | $105,760 | $469,190 | 1.71 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 990 | $221,640 | $80,390 | $503,890 | 0.69 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 350 | $218,690 | $93,930 | $439,450 | 1.31 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 1,730 | $218,190 | $83,260 | $487,440 | 1.19 |
| Lincoln, NE | 460 | $217,780 | $101,930 | $488,020 | 1.92 |
| Madison, WI | 900 | $217,010 | $122,970 | $402,710 | 1.67 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,660 | $216,060 | $117,930 | $543,370 | 1.13 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 310 | $214,340 | $91,450 | $428,060 | 0.81 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 640 | $213,920 | $81,800 | $466,660 | 0.72 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 440 | $209,990 | $68,220 | $481,650 | 1.25 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 4,500 | $209,980 | $102,310 | $479,550 | 1.75 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 520 | $209,140 | $118,080 | $522,640 | 1.17 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 980 | $207,170 | $80,430 | $535,860 | 0.68 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 1,120 | $202,840 | $93,620 | $504,140 | 0.64 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 430 | $202,750 | $86,020 | $447,980 | 1.01 |
| Cleveland, OH | 980 | $199,350 | $90,890 | $432,640 | 0.72 |
| Wichita, KS | 350 | $198,910 | $93,600 | $452,740 | 0.87 |
| Knoxville, TN | 510 | $198,890 | $66,940 | $444,320 | 0.92 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 680 | $196,680 | $78,420 | $459,580 | 0.84 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 360 | $195,650 | $77,990 | $427,380 | 1.38 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 390 | $195,400 | $93,290 | $386,830 | 0.87 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 320 | $190,650 | $108,150 | $505,980 | 1.13 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 750 | $190,480 | $92,820 | $552,180 | 0.50 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 1,690 | $190,400 | $77,490 | $486,800 | 1.55 |
| Fresno, CA | 700 | $188,930 | $92,400 | $402,570 | 1.12 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 300 | $186,440 | $75,050 | $377,320 | 1.82 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 660 | $180,240 | $118,560 | $329,990 | 1.12 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 970 | $179,990 | $69,990 | $432,400 | 1.09 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 570 | $179,360 | $60,880 | $480,280 | 1.63 |
The median is $213,990 a year ($102.88 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $75,700 and the highest-paid tenth over $507,730 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
204,350 in May 2025, and BLS projects +3.2% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Bachelor's degree (BLS).
Oregon, with a median of $341,630 (among states with published figures).