From 1978–2023, top CEO compensation shot up 1,085%, compared with a 24% increase in a typical worker’s compensation. In 2023, CEOs were paid 290 times as much as a typical worker—in contrast to 1965, when they were paid 21 times as much as a typical worker. That CEOs were paid nearly 10 times as much as the top 0.1% of U.S. wage earners in 2022 illustrates just how distorted CEO pay increases have become.
From 1978–2023, top CEO compensation shot up 1,085%, compared with a 24% increase in a typical worker’s compensation. In 2023, CEOs were paid 290 times as much as a typical worker—in contrast to 1965, when they were paid 21 times as much as a typical worker. That CEOs were paid nearly 10 times as much as the top 0.1% of U.S. wage earners in 2022 illustrates just how distorted CEO pay increases have become.