The median CEO compensation among S&P 500 companies reached $17.7 million in 2025, marking a near 6% increase from the previous year [1]. In contrast, the median salary for employees at these firms rose by 4.7% to $89,744 [1]. This gap means that a typical mid-level employee would need roughly 200 years of work to earn what a CEO makes in a single year [1].
CEO pay packages are heavily weighted toward stock awards that vest over multiple years and depend on company performance metrics [1]. Some CEOs have exceptionally high pay ratios compared to their median employees. For example, the CEO of Coca-Cola earned 1,739 times the median worker salary [1].
The disparity is also notable in the retail sector. Many large US retail CEOs earned more in a single day than median retail employees made in a full year [2]. Daily CEO pay figures in retail companies range from about $22,365 to over $41,000 [2]. However, Costco stands out as an exception. Despite its relatively high median worker pay, its CEO’s pay remains less disproportionate compared to peers—earning $38,171 daily [2].
Anderson, director of the Global Economy at the Policy Institute, said the rising CEO pay amid stagnant wages is "infuriating as working families struggle with rising costs of living" [1].
The median CEO pay, the employee pay growth, and detailed retail sector findings are all based on 2025 data [1, 2]. These figures underscore the persistent income inequality within top US companies.
