CHRO responsibility has skyrocketed in recent years, and compensation trends underscore how organizations are increasingly viewing CHRO compensation through the lens of business performance.

A new study from Equilar on CHRO compensation at the largest U.S. public companies by revenue found the average pay package last year was $3.7 million, down from about $4.4 million in 2024. The value of stock awards, which was the largest component of pay, stayed about the same—at $2 million—which researchers say highlights that organizations are weighing CHRO contributions to business outcomes “heavily.” Meanwhile, cash bonuses decreased slightly from $896,256 to $864,610, and median base salaries also decreased from $694,167 to $674,688. READ MORE