Health system CIOs are seeing steady pay increases as their responsibilities broaden to include digital transformation, cybersecurity and AI strategy.
In 2024, more than 20% of enterprise healthcare CIOs earned over $600,000 annually, while another 15% earned between $451,000 and $500,000, according to an October report from executive search firm WittKieffer.
The Wall Street Journal reported that median base pay for CIOs reached more than $220,000 at large enterprises and nearly $210,000 at midsize organizations. Total compensation packages for newly hired CIOs at large companies now range from $1.5 million to $1.8 million.
CIO pay has increased more than 20% since 2019, according to Heller Search Associates data cited in CIO magazine. The role is gaining parity with CFOs in terms of compensation, reflecting its rising strategic value.
Across all industries, CIO pay rose 7.48% at large organizations and 9% at midsize enterprises over the past year, according to Janco Associates data cited by The Wall Street Journal in July. Analysts point to the surge in AI initiatives as a key driver.
The rising pay tracks with growing complexity in the role. WittKieffer found that while 71% of health system CIOs retain the traditional title, 20% now carry the title of chief digital and information officer—signaling a shift toward broader digital leadership.
The addition of “digital” to executive titles is also accelerating. Among leaders with “digital” in their job title, two-thirds were appointed within the last three years, according to WittKieffer’s report.
