CU Execs Seeing ‘Significant Increases’ in Total Compensation, CUES Survey Finds

MADISON, Wis.—Many credit union executives have seen “significant increases in both salary and total compensation,” according to the new 2025 CUES Executive Compensation  Survey Report. 

The data is drawn from credit unions that participated in CUES Executive Compensation  Survey and CUES Employee Salary Survey between March 3-16 of this year, the organization said.  

Key Findings

According to CUES, key findings include: 

• Bonuses Climb to New Highs: While CEO base salaries continue to rise, total  compensation jumped 10.2% from the previous year primarily due to increased  bonus payouts. “Bonus eligibility hit a record 95.9%,” CUES reported. “CEOs at credit unions over $5  billion average more than $1.25 million in total compensation, and among the  largest credit unions, CEOs earned bonuses up to 32.7% of their base salary.”
• Higher Education on the Rise: More credit union executives are advancing their  education, CUES said. “The portion with only an undergraduate degree dropped to 60.9%, while  nearly 40% now hold advanced degrees—including MBAs (14.0%) and other  master’s degrees (16.3%).”
• More Investment in Professional Development. “Average spending on executive  development climbed to $9,225 per person—surpassing pre-pandemic levels and  reflecting a renewed commitment to leadership growth,” according to CUES.

‘Investing in Leaders’

“This year’s surveys show credit unions are investing strategically in their leaders—not only  through compensation, but through professional development and long-term planning,”  Sharon Messmore, CUES products & services manager, said in a statement. “In a competitive talent  market, it’s clear that boards and executives are aligning on the value of leadership  continuity and growth.” 

About the Surveys

CUES said results for both surveys are available to CUES Unlimited+ members, and for purchase by  subscription for all others. It added:

• CUES Executive Compensation Survey includes information on 23 executive positions and  features questions related to wage, bonus, and benefits information for each.  
• CUES Employee Salary Survey includes information on a wide range of non-executive  positions and focuses on pay ranges and actual wages for each position.