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CFO Pay Grew 3.8% to $3.3 million in 2014, Outpacing CEO Pay
REDWOOD CITY, CA (September 23, 2015) — For the first since time the recession, median CFO pay at S&P 500 companies
increased more than CEO pay, according to a new report from Equilar.
In 2014, total direct compensation for CFOs at S&P 500 companies increased 3.8% to reach $3.3 million, up from
$3.2 million the year prior. Meanwhile, CEO pay at S&P 500 companies increased just 0.9%—totaling $10.3 million,
up from $10.2 million the year before.
“This is a meaningful milestone for executive pay post-recession,” said Amit Batish, Director of Content at Equilar.
“In addition to the fact that this is the first time CFO pay has increased more than CEO pay in percentage terms in
recent years, finance chiefs’ median pay increased more in real dollars year over year as well.”
Even though CEO pay remained much higher overall, median CFO pay in the S&P 500 increased $119,237 in 2014, while
median CEO pay increased just $95,135 year over year.
Complete pay data for 2008 and 2009 wasn’t included in the study period for this report, which reflects the past
five years of CFO compensation in the S&P 500. Equilar’s historical research shows that median CFO pay fell 3.1%
in 2009, while CEO pay dropped further, down 7.9% that year. That was the last time CFOs performed better than
CEOs in terms of pay change at the median. In 2010, CFO compensation rebounded with a 26.1% increase, which was
lower than 28.2% growth for CEO pay.
The rise in CFO pay levels has paralleled continuous improvements in stock market performance over the past few years,
aligning with the trajectory of growth in the S&P 500 stock index value in each of the last five years. For example,
29.6% growth in the S&P 500 stock index in 2013 corresponded with the highest rate of CFO pay growth during the study
period, a 5.8% uptick in median CFO pay that year. In 2014, stock index values increased another 11.4%, and likewise
CFO pay levels rose again. Meanwhile, CEO pay growth has had less of a direct correlation over that period.
“Across the board, more responsibility and strategic power is being put in the hands of CFOs,” said Marcec. “With pay
increasingly tied to company performance, equity is becoming a bigger part of compensation, and stock awards are now
the most significant component of overall pay.”
Founded in 2000, Equilar provides proprietary executive data, unbiased research services and exclusive corporate
governance tools. Our flagship products – Insight, BoardEdge, Engage, and Atlas – translate complex, unstructured
data sets into valuable information to help executives, board members, and investors make the best decisions possible.
As the trusted data provider to 70% of the Fortune 500, Equilar helps companies accurately benchmark and track
executive and board compensation. Equilar’s research is cited regularly by The New York Times, Bloomberg, Forbes,
Associated Press, CNN Money, CNBC, The Wall Street Journal and other leading media outlets.
For more information, contact:
Amit Batish
Director of Content & Marketing Communications
press@equilar.com
650-241-6697