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Low-wage S&P 500 firms saw CEO pay rise 41.4% from 2019-2025
Institute for Policy Studies data also shows the CEO-to-worker pay gap climbed 8.4% and average CEO pay reached $17.5 million in 2025 versus $36,571 for median workers.
An analysis by the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) found that at the 100 lowest-paying corporations among the S&P 500, CEO compensation rose 41.4% between 2019 and 2025, while median worker pay increased 20.7% over the same period, unadjusted for inflation.
The average CEO at these low-wage firms earned $17.5 million in 2025, compared with median worker pay of $36,571. IPS also reported the CEO-to-worker pay ratio increased 8.4% between 2019 and 2025.
IPS linked the wealth of at least 36 billionaires to these companies, including Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Walmart’s Walton family members, and Carvana co-founders Ernie Garcia II and Ernie Garcia III. The analysis also said the low-wage 100 corporations together employ 1,282 registered federal lobbyists.
The report described the situation as an “extremes” problem and tied it to workforce pressures, citing concerns about reliance on public benefits such as Medicaid and Snap and threats to workers. It also pointed to a jump in stock buybacks at these firms in 2025, to $108.6 billion from $10 billion.
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