What are the main factors that influence a CAO's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

What industry pays the highest salary for CAO?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for CAO roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

How does experience change A CAO's salary?

A CAO's salary grows with experience: a Residency Program Administrator (2-4 years)earns $55,143, a GME Director (4+ years)earns $134,069, a Top GME and DIO Executive (4+ years)earns $272,687, a CAO (4+ years)earns $438,748,

What are the highest paying states for a CAO?

CAO salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for CAO roles are District of Columbia $479,700, California $477,900, Massachusetts $471,600. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of CAO roles make?

Salaries for CAO level roles vary by specialization: Chief Academic Officer - Healthcare: $433,246.

CAO Salary in Delaware

How much does a CAO make in Delaware?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a CAO in Delaware is $438,800 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $211.

However, a CAO's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $498,788
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $393,900 to $470,200
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $353,021

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CAO Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$470,200	$39,183	$9,042	$226
Average	$438,800	$36,567	$8,438	$211
25th Percentile	$393,900	$32,825	$7,575	$189

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Key Factors That Influence CAO Salaries

A CAO's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects CAO Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a CAO's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Residency Program Administrator (2-4 years): $55,143
GME Director (4+ years): $134,069
Top GME and DIO Executive (4+ years): $272,687
CAO (4+ years): $438,748

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Residency Program Administrator	2-4 years	$55,143
GME Director	4+ years	$134,069
Top GME and DIO Executive	4+ years	$272,687
CAO	4+ years	$438,748

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What Am I Worth?

How Do CAO Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract CAOs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $479,700.
California: $477,900.
Massachusetts: $471,600.

District of Columbia $479,700 California $477,900 Massachusetts $471,600 Washington $469,800 New Jersey $469,600 Alaska $469,000 Connecticut $463,100 New York $460,600

Hawaii $452,900 Rhode Island $449,200 Maryland $446,800 Minnesota $443,400 Colorado $442,100 Illinois $441,700 Oregon $440,000 Delaware $438,800

New Hampshire $438,000 Virginia $436,300 Pennsylvania $431,300 Nevada $428,800 North Dakota $428,000 Michigan $426,700 Wisconsin $426,200 Vermont $425,300

Texas $422,600 Maine $422,500 Arizona $422,200 Ohio $421,900 Georgia $417,900 Indiana $415,900 Wyoming $415,500 Utah $414,900

Iowa $414,700 Kansas $412,600 Louisiana $412,000 North Carolina $411,800 Missouri $411,700 Florida $410,000 Montana $409,100 Nebraska $408,200

Kentucky $407,700 South Carolina $406,000 Tennessee $404,900 Idaho $404,500 New Mexico $401,300 Oklahoma $400,600 Alabama $398,100 South Dakota $393,800

Arkansas $391,400 West Virginia $390,200 Mississippi $386,400

Top Paying Cities for CAOs

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

Lincoln: $436,800
Little Creek: $440,000
Magnolia: $439,400

Lincoln, DE $436,800 Little Creek, DE $440,000 Magnolia, DE $439,400 Milford, DE $437,900 Marydel, DE $438,700 Millsboro, DE $435,000 Millville, DE $435,700 Milton, DE $436,400

Nassau, DE $436,700 Ocean View, DE $435,600 Rehoboth Beach, DE $436,400 Seaford, DE $436,700 Selbyville, DE $434,900 Smyrna, DE $440,300 Viola, DE $438,300 Woodside, DE $439,500

Bear, DE $438,500 Newark, DE $438,300 Claymont, DE $439,200 Delaware City, DE $438,700 Hockessin, DE $438,300 Kirkwood, DE $438,700 Middletown, DE $438,800 Montchanin, DE $438,400

New Castle, DE $438,400 Odessa, DE $439,000 Port Penn, DE $439,300 Rockland, DE $438,400 Saint Georges, DE $438,700 Townsend, DE $439,400 Winterthur, DE $438,500 Lewes, DE $436,600

Wilmington, DE $438,300 Dover, DE $440,000 Dover Afb, DE $437,700 Bethany Beach, DE $435,100 Bethel, DE $435,600 Bridgeville, DE $436,600 Camden Wyoming, DE $438,800 Cheswold, DE $439,900

Clayton, DE $439,900 Dagsboro, DE $434,800 Delmar, DE $434,100 Ellendale, DE $435,400 Felton, DE $437,900 Fenwick Island, DE $434,900 Frankford, DE $434,200 Frederica, DE $438,300

Georgetown, DE $434,700 Greenwood, DE $436,700 Harbeson, DE $435,100 Harrington, DE $437,300 Hartly, DE $438,700 Houston, DE $436,700 Kenton, DE $439,900 Laurel, DE $434,400

Yorklyn, DE $438,400

CAO Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

CAO salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $466,040. While startup companies pay approximate $396,937.

CAO Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$396,937
Growth Stage	51~500	$419,062
Established	501~5000	$450,824
Enterprise	5000+	$466,040

CAO Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For CAO roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, CAO positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view CAO as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a CAO

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare	$526,560	$253.0	20%

CAO Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a CAO's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

$393,900

Average $438,800/year

$470,200

$32,825

Average $36,567/month

$39,183

$7,575

Average $8,438/week

$9,042

$189

Average $211/hour

$226

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$470,200	$39,183	$9,042	$226
Average	$438,800	$36,567	$8,438	$211
25th Percentile	$393,900	$32,825	$7,575	$189

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