Chief Executive Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Chief Executives in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $234,290 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $152,263 take-home, or $12,689 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chief executive salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$46,277
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$3,706
- California income tax$17,559
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$3,046
- Take-home pay$152,263
Marginal rate: 32% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Chief Executive pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $101,250 | $48.68 | $73,556 | $6,130 |
| 25th percentile | $159,990 | $76.92 | $107,890 | $8,991 |
| Median (50th) | $234,290 | $112.64 | $152,263 | $12,689 |
| 75th percentile | $369,330+ | $177.56 | $223,693 | $18,641 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $522,060+ | $250.99 | $301,031 | $25,086 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $234,290 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chief executive's $152,263 take-home pay has the buying power of $134,075 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 1.3× the national concentration of chief executive jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for chief executives, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #9 of 11 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $239,200+ | $227,744 | $220,918 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $239,200+ | $226,413 | $218,556 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $239,200+ | $201,659 | $196,637 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $239,200+ | $186,336 | $186,228 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $239,200+ | $198,593 | $176,428 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $239,200+ | $181,719 | $157,179 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $238,440 | $154,548 | $138,128 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $209,980 | $142,627 | $136,066 |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $234,290 | $152,263 | $134,075 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 11 metros →
About the job: chief executives
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 education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.2% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Chief Executive salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $239,200+
- San Diego, CA — $238,440
- Sacramento, CA — $169,770
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chief executive make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median chief executive salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $234,290 a year, or about $112.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $159,990 and $239,200+.
What is a chief executive’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $234,290 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $152,263 a year ($12,689 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $20,605 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a chief executive?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $213,990. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $134,075 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #9 of 11 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chief executive afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 18% of a median chief executive’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
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- Human Resources Manager — $168,400
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