A person or company may receive compensation for serving as executor. Depending on how complicated the estate is, serving as an executor can be a tough job. If you choose to compensate the executor, typically the compensation will be between 2 to 5 percent of the value of the assets, depending on state law. You could also choose to state a specific amount that the executor will receive. Even if you choose not to compensate the executor, your executor will be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses.