Median pay for CEOs rose nearly 6% in 2025, but some compensation packages were eye-popping
washingtontimes.com May 28, 2026

Median pay for CEOs rose nearly 6% in 2025, but some compensation packages were eye-popping

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

The median CEO compensation package rose nearly 6% in 2025 to $17.7 million, driven by higher profits and stock prices. Company boards rewarded top executives with incentives to increase shareholder value. In contrast, the median employee earned $89,744, a 4.7% increase, but many workers still struggled with higher prices and debt. The pay gap between CEOs and workers widened, with some CEOs earning over 1,700 times the median worker pay.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · Excessive CEO pay disparities can fuel ballot initiatives to raise taxes on companies with large pay gaps.
  • · Such initiatives, like those in San Francisco and Los Angeles, aim to address income inequality.