How Much Does the Cisco Systems CEO Make?
Chuck Robbins, CEO of Cisco Systems, earned $29.1M in total compensation in 2025, including $14.6M in stock awards and $2,912,800 in base salary.
This page answers a common executive-compensation question: How Much Does the Cisco Systems 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.
Chuck Robbins leads Cisco Systems (CSCO), a Networking company with approximately 84,900 employees. In the 2025 proxy statement filed with the SEC, Chuck Robbins's total compensation of $29,128,000 included $2,912,800 in base salary, $0 in cash bonus, $14,564,000 in stock awards, and $3,495,360 in option awards.
The CEO-to-median-worker pay ratio at Cisco Systems is 224:1, meaning the CEO earns 224x the median worker's pay of $130,000. Over the past three years, Cisco Systems produced a total shareholder return of -6.3% against 0.1% revenue growth. Our Pay-for-Performance Score rates the alignment as D (40/100).
In the most recent say-on-pay vote, 92.2% of shareholders approved the executive compensation plan. Strong shareholder support signals broad approval of the pay package.
Key Data
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Compensation | $29,128,000 |
| Base Salary | $2,912,800 |
| Stock Awards | $14,564,000 |
| Option Awards | $3,495,360 |
| Non-Equity Incentive | $4,369,200 |
| CEO-to-Worker Pay Ratio | 224:1 |
| Pay-Performance Grade | D |
Other Networking CEOs
Frequently Asked Questions
Chuck Robbins, CEO of Cisco Systems, earned $29.1M in total compensation in 2025, including $14.6M in stock awards and $2,912,800 in base salary.
Chuck Robbins is the chief executive officer of Cisco Systems (CSCO).
The CEO at Cisco Systems earns approximately 224 times the median worker's pay of $130,000.
In 2025, total compensation of $29,128,000 was composed of $2,912,800 base salary, $0 cash bonus, $14,564,000 stock awards, $3,495,360 option awards, and $4,369,200 in non-equity incentive compensation.
Our Pay-for-Performance Score rates Cisco Systems as D (40/100), based on three-year total shareholder return of -6.3%, revenue growth of 0.1%, and shareholder say-on-pay vote approval.
Chuck Robbins, CEO of Cisco Systems, earned $29.1M in total compensation in 2025, including $14.6M in stock awards and $2,912,800 in base salary.
Source: SEC EDGAR DEF 14A proxy statements, 2026.