Chief Executive Officers

The Salary Survey encompasses data on a plethora of salary components, including base salaries, benefits and allowances. The latest Salary Survey noted a considerable 11 percent increase in the salaries of CEOs. Both CEOs and management boards can analyse and interpret the information contained within the report, to understand the economic condition of the role, and accommmodate any trends that have been noticed over the preceding 12 months.

The latest Salary Survey includes a holistic breakdown of CEO remuneration based on the discipline each organisation works in. CEO remuneration is highest in the Research and Medical Research sector, suggesting favourable conditions for organisations working in this area. The Salary Survey’s granular sector analysis aids management boards and CEOs in determining a remuneration package tailored to the economic landscape of their respective fields.

Another factor that influences the salary of a CEO is the operating budget of the organisation. Not only will this number determine the funding available to pay senior executives, but it can also inform a board of directors of the level of remuneration that is usually paid to a CEO in an organisation of their financial standing. The majority of respondents for the CEO role worked in organisations with operating budgets of between $2 millon and $10 million.

The Salary Survey classifies the level of remuneration paid to CEOs according to the size of the organisations they are employed by, with earnings for the role highest in organisations with 101 to 250 employees. The report guides CEOs towards negotiating their remuneration with their management board to ensure that it accurately reflects the leadership challenges and responsibilities inherent to the role.

Salary Survey data is meticulously segmented by the Australian state or territory each CEO’s organisation is based in. While the largest number of respondents worked in organisations based in NSW, ACT-based CEOs received the highest pay. The Salary Survey provides invaluable insights into the nuanced interactions between the physical location of a workplace and the remuneration paid to its most senior leadership role.

Remuneration data from respondents has also been grouped by the tax exemption status of each respondent’s organisation. The majority of organisations who contributed data to the Salary Survey have full tax exemption status, with a $30,000 gross cap. Salary Survey data allows CEOs and executive boards to understand how their company’s financial structure impacts the salary of a CEO.