CHROs 2025: A Year in Review

CHROs 2025: A Year in Review, an Equilar publication, highlights the latest trends in CHRO compensation among the Equilar 500—the 500 largest U.S. public companies by revenue—and examines CHRO representation on Russell 3000 boards. The publication also celebrates notable CHROs who reached new milestones by joining corporate boards in 2025. 

Key Findings

• 78.2% of CHROs on Russell 3000 boards were women in 2025
• $2.9 million in median total compensation for Equilar 500 CHROs in 2025
• 52.6% decline in the appointment of CHROs to new Russell 3000 board seats since 2023
• 216 Russell 3000 CHROs were disclosed as NEOs in 2025, marking a 145.5% increase since 2021