How Much Does the Workday CEO Make?
Carl Eschenbach, CEO of Workday, earned $25.0M in total compensation in 2026, including $12.5M in stock awards and $2,500,000 in base salary.
This page answers a common executive-compensation question: How Much Does the Workday 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.
Carl Eschenbach leads Workday (WDAY), a Software company with approximately 18,800 employees. In the 2026 proxy statement filed with the SEC, Carl Eschenbach's total compensation of $25,000,000 included $2,500,000 in base salary, $0 in cash bonus, $12,500,000 in stock awards, and $3,000,000 in option awards.
The CEO-to-median-worker pay ratio at Workday is 156:1, meaning the CEO earns 156x the median worker's pay of $160,000. Over the past three years, Workday produced a total shareholder return of 49.8% against 35.8% revenue growth. Our Pay-for-Performance Score rates the alignment as A (94/100).
In the most recent say-on-pay vote, 87.1% of shareholders approved the executive compensation plan. Moderate shareholder support suggests some investor concern with pay practices.
Key Data
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Compensation | $25,000,000 |
| Base Salary | $2,500,000 |
| Stock Awards | $12,500,000 |
| Option Awards | $3,000,000 |
| Non-Equity Incentive | $3,750,000 |
| CEO-to-Worker Pay Ratio | 156:1 |
| Pay-Performance Grade | A |
Other Software CEOs
Frequently Asked Questions
Carl Eschenbach, CEO of Workday, earned $25.0M in total compensation in 2026, including $12.5M in stock awards and $2,500,000 in base salary.
Carl Eschenbach is the chief executive officer of Workday (WDAY).
The CEO at Workday earns approximately 156 times the median worker's pay of $160,000.
In 2026, total compensation of $25,000,000 was composed of $2,500,000 base salary, $0 cash bonus, $12,500,000 stock awards, $3,000,000 option awards, and $3,750,000 in non-equity incentive compensation.
Our Pay-for-Performance Score rates Workday as A (94/100), based on three-year total shareholder return of 49.8%, revenue growth of 35.8%, and shareholder say-on-pay vote approval.
Carl Eschenbach, CEO of Workday, earned $25.0M in total compensation in 2026, including $12.5M in stock awards and $2,500,000 in base salary.
Source: SEC EDGAR DEF 14A proxy statements, 2026.