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Chief Administrative Executive Salary in the United States

How much does a Chief Administrative Executive make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Chief Administrative Executive in the United States is $311,200 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $150.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $350,173
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $277,800 to $331,600
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $247,391
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Chief Administrative Executive Salaries

A Chief Administrative Executive'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Chief Administrative Executive Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Chief Administrative Executive'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:

  • Office Operations Manager (3-5 years): $84,559
  • Office Operations Senior Manager (5+ years): $97,326
  • Administrative Services Manager (5+ years): $132,202
  • Director Administrative Resources (5+ years): $162,802
  • Chief Administrative Executive (5+ years): $311,131
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Office Operations Manager3-5 years$84,559
Office Operations Senior Manager5+ years$97,326
Administrative Services Manager5+ years$132,202
Director Administrative Resources5+ years$162,802
Chief Administrative Executive5+ years$311,131
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How Do Chief Administrative Executive 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 Chief Administrative Executives. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $344,500.
  • California: $343,200.
  • Massachusetts: $338,700.

Top Paying Cities for Chief Administrative Executives

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:

  • San Jose: $392,500
  • San Francisco: $388,200
  • Oakland: $380,000

What Skills Can Increase a Chief Administrative Executive's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 10.85% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Data Management (Mentioned in 2.33% Job Postings): Data Management comprises all disciplines related to managing data as a valuable resource. The concept of data management arose in the 1980s as technology moved from sequential processing (first cards, then tape) to random access storage. Since it was now possible to store a discreet fact and quickly access it using random access disk technology, those suggesting that data management was more important than business process management used arguments such as "a customer's home address is stored in 75 (or some other large number) places in our computer systems." However, during this period, random access processing was not competitively fast, so those suggesting "process management" was more important than "data management" used batch processing time as their primary argument. As software applications evolved into real-time, interactive usage, it became obvious that both management processes were important. If the data was not well defined, the data would be mis-used in applications. If the process wasn't well defined, it was impossible to meet user needs.
  • Expense Management (Mentioned in 1.55% Job Postings): Expense management refers to the systems deployed by a business to process, pay, and audit employee-initiated expenses. These costs include, but are not limited to, expenses incurred for travel and entertainment. Expense management includes the policies and procedures that govern such spending, as well as the technologies and services utilized to process and analyze the data associated with it. Software to manage the expense claim, authorization, audit and repayment processes can be obtained from organizations that provide a licensed software, implementation and support service, or alternatively, from software as a service (SaaS) providers. SaaS providers offer on-demand web-based applications managed by a third party to improve the productivity of expense management.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 10.85%
Data Management 2.33%
Expense Management 1.55%
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What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Chief Administrative Executive's salary.

  • Results Orientation: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Facility Management: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Sustainability: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Results Orientation $379,664
22%
Facility Management $379,664
22%
Sustainability $357,880
15%
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Chief Administrative Executive Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Chief Administrative Executive salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $347,422. While startup companies pay approximate $294,178.

Chief Administrative Executive Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $294,178
Growth Stage 51~500 $311,057
Established 501~5000 $335,464
Enterprise 5000+ $347,422

Chief Administrative Executive Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Chief Administrative Executive roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Chief Administrative Executive positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Chief Administrative Executive as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Chief Administrative Executive

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$373,440$180.020%
Biotechnology$357,880$172.015%
Financial Services$357,880$172.015%
Healthcare$357,880$172.015%
Pharmaceuticals$342,320$165.010%

How Education impacts a Chief Administrative Executive's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Chief Administrative Executives enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Chief Administrative Executive with a Bachelor's Degree is between $270,954 and $292,196).

Chief Administrative Executive Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Chief Administrative Executive
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 12.3%
Associates 9.3%
Bachelors 40.1%
Masters 31.1%
Doctorate 6.3%
View as Graph

Chief Administrative Executive Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Chief Administrative Executive'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 October 01, 2026
$277,800
Average $311,200/year
$331,600
$23,150
Average $25,933/month
$27,633
$5,342
Average $5,985/week
$6,377
$134
Average $150/hour
$159
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $331,600 $27,633 $6,377 $159
Average $311,200 $25,933 $5,985 $150
25th Percentile $277,800 $23,150 $5,342 $134

Most common benefits for Chief Administrative Executive

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Chief Administrative Executive

Here are companies hiring for Chief Administrative Executive and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Chief Administrative Executive

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Chief Administrative Executive?

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Chief Administrative Executive roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

2. Do administrators get paid more than managers?

Typically, Chief Administrative Executives earn a higher base salary compared to office managers. The salary range for this role is between $252,900 and $335,800, with a mid-salary of $289,000. In contrast, office managers may earn less and might receive additional compensation like bonuses.

3. Do administrators get paid more than managers?

Typically, Chief Administrative Executives earn a higher salary compared to office managers. The salary range for this role is between $252,900 and $335,800, with a mid-salary of $289,000. This indicates that administrators, particularly at the executive level, can command a more substantial salary than many managerial positions.

4. What is the highest salary for an admin executive?

The highest salary for a Chief Administrative Executive is $335,800. This figure reflects the top end of the salary range, which includes a minimum of $252,900 and a midpoint of $289,000.

5. What is the highest paying job in the US government?

The highest paying job in the US government is often the Chief Administrative Executive, with a salary range from $252,900 to $335,800. This role typically commands a mid-salary of $289,000, reflecting the significant responsibilities and expertise required in managing administrative functions at a high level.

6. Who is the highest paid CEO in the USA?

The salary data for Chief Administrative Executives indicates a minimum salary of $252,900, a mid-range salary of $289,000, and a maximum salary of $335,800. While the highest-paid CEOs like Elon Musk and Alexander Karp earn significantly more, the compensation for Chief Administrative Executives reflects a substantial income within corporate leadership.

7. What is the highest administrative position?

The highest administrative position is the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). CAOs oversee daily operations, develop policies, prepare reports, and review processes to enhance organizational performance. The salary for this role ranges from $252,900 to $335,800, with a mid-point of $289,000, reflecting the significant responsibilities and impact on the organization.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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