It's good to be boss, baby.

• Position: NC TREND: Pulse

Median pay for CEOs of the biggest U.S. companies rose almost 7% for fiscal 2016, on track to set a post-recession record. Most leaders of North Carolina's 10 largest public companies received higher total compensation than in 2015--check out Martin Marietta Materials CEO Ward Nye's 70% bump--but there were exceptions, most notably Red Hat CEO James Whitehurst's 24% cut.

(million) ERIC WISEMAN VF CORP. $16.3 [up arrow] 23% BRIAN MOYNIHAN BANK OF AMERICA $15.9 [up arrow] 15% LYNN GOOD DUKE ENERGY $13.8 [up arrow] 28% ROBERT NIBLOCK LOWE'S $12.7 [down arrow] 4%...