When comparing the pay and perks of U.S. corporate executives to those of their European counterparts, there are some notable differences. Although American executives may make more money than their international peers, they also tend to receive more in terms of benefits and long-term incentives.

Pay

The average U.S. executive earns much higher pay than those in Europe. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the median CEO salary in the U.S. is around $15 million, while the median in Europe is just over half of that at $7 million. Additionally, U.S. executive pay is much less regulated than that in Europe, meaning they can receive much larger bonuses and other forms of incentive pay.

Benefits

U.S. executives also receive more generous benefits packages than their counterparts in Europe. This includes generous retirement funds, private health insurance, and other forms of compensation such as cars, homes, and vacation properties. It is not uncommon for top executives to receive lavish perks that are not available to other employees.

Long-Term Incentives

U.S. executives also have access to more long-term incentives than their European counterparts. This includes stock options, restricted stock units, phantom stock, and other forms of equity-based compensation. These long-term incentives are designed to reward executives for their performance over the long-term, and encourage them to stay with the company for the long-haul.

Conclusion

In conclusion, U.S. corporate executives tend to receive much higher pay and more generous benefits and long-term incentive packages than their European counterparts. This difference in executive compensation is largely due to the less regulated executive pay structures in the U.S. coupled with generous perks and long-term incentives available to executives.