The median reported total compensation for chief executive officers heading up companies belonging to the Equilar 500 was $11.9 million in 2017, roughly $400,000 more than the median total compensation for CEOs reported in 2016, according to a recent report from Equilar.
"CEO Pay Trends," an Equilar publication, analyzed compensation data for CEOs at Equilar 500 companies since 2013. The Equilar 500 comprises the 500 largest U.S.-headquartered companies by revenue that trade on one of the major U.S. stock exchanges.
Here are four findings from the report:
1. The median reported total compensation for CEOs in 2017 — $11.9 million — represents a 21.4 percent increase from 2013, the first year of the study.
2. The median reported CEO compensation has remained constant around $15 million for the past three years, despite dropping slightly between 2016 and 2017. However, the median reported total compensation in the healthcare sector was the highest of all sectors.
3. Roughly half (48.5 percent) of the reported pay mix for CEOs running corporations in the Equilar 500 was represented in the form of stock.
4. The majority (86.5 percent) of Equilar 500 CEOs received an award with a performance condition in 2017, while slightly less than half (49.8 percent) of the same group received an award with time-based options.
To access the full study, click here.