These are the highest-paid CHROs in America

“Since the passage of Dodd-Frank, companies have placed greater emphasis on aligning executive pay with long-term performance,” Batish said. “Equity awards help reinforce that alignment by tying a significant portion of compensation to sustained company performance and shareholder value.”

A gender gap inside a female-dominated field

Women represent 32 of the 50 executives analyzed, yet their median pay stood at $3.5 million compared to $5 million for the 18 male HR executives on the list. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women make up roughly 76% of HR managers across the broader workforce. Equilar describes the $1.5 million gap as “significant at the highest levels of the profession, even in a discipline where women are well represented.”

It’s a tension HRD has tracked across the C-suite more broadly: as our reporting on how long it will take to close the gender pay gap shows, the gap persists even in fields where women hold the majority of senior roles.

“It’s difficult to pinpoint a single reason behind this trend, but a few factors are worth considering,” Batish said. “Women have historically held a larger share of CHRO positions, while the smaller number of male CHROs can cause the median for that group to fluctuate more. Even so, it’s a trend worth monitoring.”

What the titles reveal

Several of the highest-paid executives on the list carry portfolios that extend well beyond traditional HR, into legal, corporate affairs, compliance, and, increasingly, AI. Canney’s title at ServiceNow, Chief People and AI Enablement Officer, is one example, but she’s not alone. Expedia’s Robert Dzielak is Chief Legal and People Officer. Rockwell Automation’s Rebecca House holds a combined People and Legal portfolio. Yum! Brands’ Tracy Skeans is both COO and Chief People and Culture Officer.