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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIt is Academy Sports + Outdoors, the Katy-based retailer. Its 2026 proxy statement reports $9,560,129 in total 2025 compensation for CEO Steve Lawrence and $22,584 in annual total compensation for the median team member—an approximate ratio of 423 to 1.
What does Academy’s 423-to-1 pay ratio measure?
The figures are for Academy’s fiscal year ended January 31, 2026, which the company treats as fiscal year 2025 in its compensation disclosure. The CEO figure is total compensation, not salary alone; the median-worker figure is annual total compensation. Academy’s proxy statement reports both amounts and the approximate ratio.
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In practical terms, the disclosed CEO total was about 423 times the median team member’s total. That is the precise context behind the Houston Chronicle’s rounded description of the ratio as “over 400 times.”
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The Chronicle reports that Academy calculated gross wages for employees employed as of January 31, 2026, excluding the CEO. Its calculation included full-time, part-time, temporary, and seasonal workers. The median employee identified was a full-time store team member.
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The $22,584 figure is therefore the median for the employee population used in the company’s calculation; it is not a claim that every Academy worker earned that amount or that the amount represents a full-time salary range.
How does Academy compare with other Houston-area companies?
The Chronicle’s 2026 regional analysis lists these 2025 CEO-to-median-worker ratios and median-worker compensation amounts. Its reported worker-pay amounts for the other companies are approximate.
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| Company | Reported ratio | Median-worker compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Academy Sports + Outdoors | Approximately 423:1 | $22,584 |
| Hewlett Packard Enterprise | 316:1 | About $74,000 |
| Baker Hughes | 310:1 | About $69,000 |
| Service Corp. International | 297:1 | About $44,500 |
| Exxon Mobil | 181:1 | About $183,000 |
| Chevron | 175:1 | About $153,000 |
Academy’s ratio is the highest among the companies shown in the Chronicle’s regional comparison. The ratios and median-pay figures in this table are reported by the Chronicle; the companies’ calculation methods should not be assumed to match.
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Why pay ratios are not a perfect company-to-company comparison
Academy’s proxy statement cautions that SEC rules allow companies to use different methods, exclusions, estimates, and assumptions when calculating the ratio. Differences in the worker population, how the median employee is selected, and which compensation components are counted can affect the result. A ratio is most useful when read alongside the company’s own description of its calculation, rather than as a standardized ranking on its own.
For context, Academy’s reported figure pairs total CEO compensation with annual total compensation for a median team member. Anyone comparing it with another company’s disclosure should check the reporting year, compensation measure, workforce included, selection method, and any exclusions or estimates.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the figures say—and what they do not
The disclosure establishes a wide gap between the CEO’s reported total compensation and the median team member’s annual total compensation under Academy’s stated calculation. The ratio alone does not explain why the gap exists, how individual employees are paid, or how the company’s compensation decisions affect morale or productivity.
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The Chronicle quoted the AFL-CIO saying large CEO-to-worker pay gaps “contribute to economic inequality and can undermine employee morale and productivity.” That is the federation’s stated view, not a finding established by Academy’s ratio itself.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteSources: Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. 2026 Proxy Statement; Houston Chronicle, “Here’s how much more Houston CEOs earn than their workers” (October 9, 2026).
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