How Much Does the Charles Schwab CEO Make?
Walt Bettinger, CEO of Charles Schwab, earned $12.0M in total compensation in 2025, including $6.0M in stock awards and $1,200,000 in base salary.
This page answers a common executive-compensation question: How Much Does the Charles Schwab CEO Make?. The answer draws on SEC DEF 14A proxy statements, the public disclosure mechanism for U.S. public-company executive pay. Every public company must file an annual proxy statement disclosing CEO and named-executive-officer compensation in detail. Why this matters for shareholders: executive compensation is the single most-disclosed governance metric at U.S. public companies, and the Dodd-Frank-mandated say-on-pay vote gives shareholders an explicit channel to express approval or dissent. Reading pay data well — including pay-versus-performance, peer-group selection, and time-vesting structures — is a basic part of stock-by-stock fundamental analysis.
The detailed answer below uses the actual proxy-statement filings, explains how to read them, and translates the executive-compensation accounting into the shareholder-relevant interpretation.
Walt Bettinger leads Charles Schwab (SCHW), a Brokerage company with approximately 35,200 employees. In the 2025 proxy statement filed with the SEC, Walt Bettinger's total compensation of $12,000,000 included $1,200,000 in base salary, $0 in cash bonus, $6,000,000 in stock awards, and $1,440,000 in option awards.
The CEO-to-median-worker pay ratio at Charles Schwab is 150:1, meaning the CEO earns 150x the median worker's pay of $80,000. Over the past three years, Charles Schwab produced a total shareholder return of 13.3% against 12.7% revenue growth. Our Pay-for-Performance Score rates the alignment as B (72/100).
In the most recent say-on-pay vote, 87.6% of shareholders approved the executive compensation plan. Moderate shareholder support suggests some investor concern with pay practices.
Key Data
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Compensation | $12,000,000 |
| Base Salary | $1,200,000 |
| Stock Awards | $6,000,000 |
| Option Awards | $1,440,000 |
| Non-Equity Incentive | $1,800,000 |
| CEO-to-Worker Pay Ratio | 150:1 |
| Pay-Performance Grade | B |
Frequently Asked Questions
Walt Bettinger, CEO of Charles Schwab, earned $12.0M in total compensation in 2025, including $6.0M in stock awards and $1,200,000 in base salary.
Walt Bettinger is the chief executive officer of Charles Schwab (SCHW).
The CEO at Charles Schwab earns approximately 150 times the median worker's pay of $80,000.
In 2025, total compensation of $12,000,000 was composed of $1,200,000 base salary, $0 cash bonus, $6,000,000 stock awards, $1,440,000 option awards, and $1,800,000 in non-equity incentive compensation.
Our Pay-for-Performance Score rates Charles Schwab as B (72/100), based on three-year total shareholder return of 13.3%, revenue growth of 12.7%, and shareholder say-on-pay vote approval.
Walt Bettinger, CEO of Charles Schwab, earned $12.0M in total compensation in 2025, including $6.0M in stock awards and $1,200,000 in base salary.
Source: SEC EDGAR DEF 14A proxy statements, 2026.