But the real headline is the enormous gap between CEO compensation and average worker pay. A study by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) analyzed this disparity and found that CEO pay has increased 1,089% since 1978. Between 1978 and 2023, CEO compensation at top S&P 500 companies rose 1,089%, while average worker pay increased by just 24%, according to the EPI. The study tracked the ratio of CEO compensation to that of the top 0.1% of workers. “Rising CEO pay does not reflect a rising value of skills or contribution to firms’ productivity,” the EPI report states.