Chief Executive salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Chief Executives in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $297,350 a year ($142.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 530 workers.
Pay ranges from $124,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $612,350 for the top 10%. That is 39% higher than the national median of $213,990. Pay here is 4% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $310,740. There are 0.69 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.53). The average (mean) salary is $333,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $124,010 | $59.62 |
| 25th percentile | $190,920 | $91.79 |
| Median | $297,350 | $142.96 |
| 75th percentile | $464,990 | $223.56 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $612,350 | $294.40 |
| Average (mean) | $333,240 | $160.21 |
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 | $24,779.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $12,389.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $11,436.54 |
| Weekly | $5,718.27 |
| Hourly | $142.96 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $297,350 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $381,330 | 140 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $354,310 | 160 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $329,030 | 740 |
| Richmond, VA | $326,160 | 820 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $317,900 | 180 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $312,730 | 50 |
| Wilmington, NC | $298,730 | 30 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $286,050 | 360 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $273,710 | 80 |
| Asheville, NC | $270,520 | 50 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $264,970 | 40 |
| Roanoke, VA | $258,310 | 100 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $225,760 | 40 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $221,620 | 90 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $219,400 | 160 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $208,030 | 50 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $189,410 | 100 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $100,340 | $48.24 |
| Managers, All Other | $143,230 | $68.86 |
| Financial Manager | $163,940 | $78.82 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $123,900 | $59.57 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $104,050 | — |
| Construction Manager | $105,240 | $50.60 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $170,560 | $82.00 |
| Sales Manager | $158,750 | $76.32 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $64,100 | $30.82 |
| Food Service Manager | $64,990 | $31.25 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $161,340 | $77.57 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $101,500 | $48.80 |
| Human Resources Manager | $140,410 | $67.51 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $108,430 | $52.13 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for chief executives in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $297,350 a year, or $142.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $124,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $612,350 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of chief executives in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $612,350 a year. The top 25% earn $464,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $124,010 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $190,920 or less.
How many chief executives work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 530 chief executives are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.