Chief Executive salary in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
Chief Executives in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median of $213,920 a year ($102.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 640 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $466,660 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $213,990. Pay here is 19% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $179,530. There are 0.94 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.72). The average (mean) salary is $260,320, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,800 | $39.33 |
| 25th percentile | $129,540 | $62.28 |
| Median | $213,920 | $102.85 |
| 75th percentile | $324,270 | $155.90 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $466,660 | $224.35 |
| Average (mean) | $260,320 | $125.15 |
Half of chief executives earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $17,826.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $8,913.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $8,227.69 |
| Weekly | $4,113.85 |
| Hourly | $102.85 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $213,920 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chief Executive salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $344,960 | 3,610 |
| Evansville, IN | $339,330 | 40 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $261,280 | 60 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $256,320 | 870 |
| Bloomington, IN | $235,900 | 80 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $213,720 | 60 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $207,170 | 980 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $204,450 | 40 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $179,520 | 270 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $172,410 | 120 |
| Owensboro, KY | $171,540 | 50 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $164,080 | 80 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $161,760 | 270 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $158,670 | 40 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $148,710 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chief executives
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $341,630 |
| Washington | $339,810 |
| Illinois | $331,920 |
| North Carolina | $314,290 |
| Virginia | $310,740 |
| New Jersey | $310,440 |
| Connecticut | $295,120 |
| Hawaii | $281,640 |
| South Dakota | $280,900 |
| New York | $257,980 |
See Chief Executive pay in every state or the Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $89,140 | $42.86 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $112,070 | $53.88 |
| Sales Manager | $137,880 | $66.29 |
| Financial Manager | $136,970 | $65.85 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $111,440 | $53.58 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $115,400 | — |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $150,710 | $72.46 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $98,040 | $47.13 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $58,980 | $28.36 |
| Construction Manager | $101,780 | $48.93 |
| Marketing Manager | $136,350 | $65.55 |
| Managers, All Other | $134,710 | $64.76 |
| Human Resources Manager | $122,360 | $58.83 |
| Food Service Manager | $72,500 | $34.86 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chief executive make in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The median salary for chief executives in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $213,920 a year, or $102.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $466,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The top 10% of chief executives in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn at least $466,660 a year. The top 25% earn $324,270 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,800 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $129,540 or less.
How many chief executives work in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
About 640 chief executives are employed in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.