How Much Does the Union Pacific CEO Make?
Jim Vena, CEO of Union Pacific, earned $12.0M in total compensation in 2023, 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 Union Pacific 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.
Jim Vena leads Union Pacific (UNP), a Railroads company with approximately 33,000 employees. In the 2023 proxy statement filed with the SEC, Jim Vena'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 Union Pacific is 160:1, meaning the CEO earns 160x the median worker's pay of $75,000. Over the past three years, Union Pacific produced a total shareholder return of -1.9% against -7.5% revenue growth. Our Pay-for-Performance Score rates the alignment as C (52/100).
In the most recent say-on-pay vote, 85.0% 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 | 160:1 |
| Pay-Performance Grade | C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jim Vena, CEO of Union Pacific, earned $12.0M in total compensation in 2023, including $6.0M in stock awards and $1,200,000 in base salary.
Jim Vena is the chief executive officer of Union Pacific (UNP).
The CEO at Union Pacific earns approximately 160 times the median worker's pay of $75,000.
In 2023, 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 Union Pacific as C (52/100), based on three-year total shareholder return of -1.9%, revenue growth of -7.5%, and shareholder say-on-pay vote approval.
Jim Vena, CEO of Union Pacific, earned $12.0M in total compensation in 2023, including $6.0M in stock awards and $1,200,000 in base salary.
Source: SEC EDGAR DEF 14A proxy statements, 2026.