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

The typical CEO compensation package rose nearly 6% in 2025 to $17. 7 million, as company boards rewarded their top executives for bigger profits and higher stock prices, and gave them incentives to stick around and make even more money for shareholders.

The Associated Press’ CEO compensation survey, which uses data analyzed for The AP by Equilar, included pay data for 337 executives at S&P 500 companies who have served at least two full consecutive fiscal years at their companies, which filed proxy statements between Jan. 1 and April 30.