2026 Executive Compensation Survey
What are executives actually earning in 2026?
Five findings on executive pay, bonus design, and CEO benchmarks. Add your work email to unlock all five figures and download the infographic.
- Five findings from the 2026 National Executive Compensation Survey
- Base salary increases, bonus plan design, payout drivers, CEO pay by company size, and long-term incentives
- A short form unlocks all five figures and the PDF
Executive pay decisions are too expensive to guess at. This infographic covers how far executive base pay moved this year, what actually drives bonus payouts, and how company size changes the CEO pay benchmark. Add your work email and all five are yours.
This infographic gives you five findings from the 2026 National Executive Compensation Survey: how far executive base pay moved this year, how bonus plans are built, what drives payouts, how company size changes the CEO benchmark, and how common long-term incentives are. Add your work email to unlock all five figures and download the PDF.
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What is inside
Five findings, each with the numbers behind it. Here is what they cover.
- 01
Executive raises are holding steady.
From CEOs to plant managers, most increases landed in the same range.
3-5%average base salary increases across nearly all executive roles
- 02
Bonus plans are common, but the details vary.
Who qualifies, how payouts are calculated, and the maximum employees can earn.
66%of manufacturing organizations offer a formal short-term bonus plan
60% of non-manufacturing organizations do the same. Most award bonuses annually: 83% of manufacturing and 90% of non-manufacturing organizations.
- 03
Company results drive bonus payouts.
Company performance now outweighs individual performance, salary level, and discretion.
88%of manufacturing organizations report company performance is the primary driver of bonus amounts
85% of non-manufacturing organizations report the same.
- 04
Company size changes the CEO pay benchmark.
Total cash compensation moves sharply with revenue, and variable pay creates much of the gap.
Over $700Ktotal CEO cash compensation at some organizations with more than $500M in sales
Under $200K at some organizations with less than $5M in sales.
- 05
Long-term incentives stay near the top.
Stock options and similar incentives are far more common among senior executives.
18-19%long-term incentive participation among CEOs and C-suite executives
9-10% participation among directors and managers.
Frequently asked questions
What does the free infographic include?
Five findings from the 2026 National Executive Compensation Survey, covering base salary increases, short-term bonus plan design, what drives bonus payouts, CEO pay by company size, and long-term incentive participation. All five figures unlock when you complete the short form, and the PDF is yours to keep.
Where does the data come from?
The 2026 National Executive Compensation Survey, produced through the Employer Associations of America (EAA), the national network of employer associations Catapult belongs to. Manufacturing and non-manufacturing results are reported separately where the two differ.
Why do I have to fill out a form?
The survey data comes from the national program Catapult takes part in through the Employer Associations of America, and it is not published openly. It is your name, company, and work email, plus one question about whether you would like to talk to someone about our compensation services. Either way we will send you compensation guidance by email, and you can unsubscribe at any time. It also tells us who is using the benchmarks so we can point you to the right ones.
How do I get the full survey results?
The full report is available to Catapult members through the member hub. If you are not a member yet, membership is the route in. See the survey overview or call (866) 440-0302.
Can Catapult help us set executive pay?
Yes. Our compensation consulting and benchmarking services build defensible pay structures for executive roles.
- Source: the 2026 National Executive Compensation Survey, produced through the Employer Associations of America (EAA), the national network of employer associations Catapult belongs to. Responses are pooled from employers across the country, so the figures are national rather than limited to one region.
- Manufacturing and non-manufacturing results are reported separately where the two differ.
- The free infographic covers five findings. The full survey holds complete pay data by role, industry, and company size.
Compiled by the Catapult HR Team. Questions or a correction? Email info@letscatapult.org or call (866) 440-0302.
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Unlock comp insights
Five findings on executive pay, bonus design, and CEO benchmarks. A short form unlocks all five figures and the PDF.