Cincinnati · Occupational wage benchmark
Chief Executives Salary in Cincinnati
What Chief Executives actually earn in the Cincinnati metro area — the published BLS median, what it is worth after local costs, and how it ranks against other major metros.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2024 estimates (published April 2025)), Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro estimates for SOC 11-1011; cost-of-living adjustment from U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (MARPP) (2024). Occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes.
- Median annual wage
- $207,170
- Chief Executives in Cincinnati
- Adjusted for cost of living
- $217,228
- Cincinnati price level 95.4 (U.S. = 100)
- Rank among metros
- #26 of 35
- #23 after cost of living
- Workers employed
- 980
- in metro Cincinnati
What Chief Executives earn in Cincinnati, adjusted for what it costs to live there
A headline wage only means something next to local prices. Once local prices are accounted for, Cincinnati moves up 3 places — the paycheck stretches further than the nominal figure suggests.
| Metro | Median (nominal) | Adjusted for cost of living |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | $375,810 | $356,485 |
| Seattle | $370,000 | $332,934 |
| Chicago | $344,960 | $332,989 |
| Charlotte | $329,030 | $337,994 |
| Richmond | $326,160 | $333,299 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $320,060 | $310,467 |
| Detroit | $304,110 | $303,206 |
| New York | $301,440 | $267,797 |
| Virginia Beach | $297,350 | $303,601 |
| Philadelphia | $292,770 | $285,479 |
| San Francisco | $288,690 | $249,704 |
| Austin | $288,150 | $293,833 |
| Atlanta | $275,820 | $275,660 |
| Houston | $275,270 | $279,096 |
| Baltimore | $268,030 | $256,520 |
| San Antonio | $256,610 | $270,926 |
| Indianapolis | $256,320 | $267,848 |
| Providence | $243,620 | $239,376 |
| San Diego | $238,440 | $213,108 |
| Los Angeles | $234,290 | $206,303 |
Nominal medians: BLS OEWS, May 2024 estimates (published April 2025) — occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes. Adjusted column: SalaryMBA estimate, computed as nominal ÷ (metro RPP ÷ 100) using BEA MARPP 2024 regional price parities.
The national pay range for Chief Executives
BLS publishes the full percentile distribution nationally. The spread within the occupation is usually far wider than the gap between metros.
| Percentile (national) | Annual wage | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $75,700 | Entry / early-career end |
| 25th percentile | $129,540 | |
| Median (50th) | $213,990 | |
| 75th percentile | $356,200 | |
| 90th percentile | $507,730 | Senior / top-market end |
Other MBA-relevant roles in Cincinnati
How to read the Cincinnati number
The $207,170 median means half of Chief Executives in the Cincinnati area earn less and half earn more. It is measured across everyone in the occupation — every experience level, industry, and level of education. It is not the salary of a recent MBA graduate, and it is not a starting salary.
BLS counts roughly 980 people in this role in the Cincinnati area. To compare against the state and national picture, see Chief Executives nationally or model your own economics with the MBA ROI calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Chief Executives make in Cincinnati?
Chief Executives in the Cincinnati metro area earn a median of $207,170 per year, according to BLS OEWS May 2024 estimates (published April 2025). That is -3.2% vs national, ranking Cincinnati #26 of 35 major metros we track for this role. This is an occupational wage benchmark across all workers in the metro, not an MBA-graduate-specific salary.
Is $207,170 a good salary in Cincinnati?
It depends on local prices. The Cincinnati area price level is 95.4 against a U.S. average of 100, so $207,170 there carries roughly the purchasing power of $217,228 nationally — about $10,058 more than the headline number implies. Once local prices are accounted for, Cincinnati moves up 3 places — the paycheck stretches further than the nominal figure suggests.
Do Chief Executives in Cincinnati need an MBA?
These BLS figures cover everyone in the occupation regardless of degree, so they cannot isolate what an MBA adds. Chief Executives is a role MBA graduates commonly target, and an MBA can affect where you land within the range through network, function, and seniority — but any precise MBA premium for this role in Cincinnati would not be supported by this data.
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