Chief Executives
Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.
Also called: Aeronautics Commission Director, Agency Owner, Agricultural Services Director, Arts and Humanities Council Director, Bank President, Bureau Chief
Median pay
$213,990
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$75,700 – $507,730
People employed
204,350
Holland code
ECS
Enterprising · Conventional · Social
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 2.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 3.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 4.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 5.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 6.Do you want the same hours every week?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
Chief Executives pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (46 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What chief executives do
- 01Direct or coordinate an organization's financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.
- 02Confer with board members, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems.
- 03Prepare budgets for approval, including those for funding or implementation of programs.
- 04Direct, plan, or implement policies, objectives, or activities of organizations or businesses to ensure continuing operations, to maximize returns on investments, or to increase productivity.
- 05Prepare or present reports concerning activities, expenses, budgets, government statutes or rulings, or other items affecting businesses or program services.
- 06Implement corrective action plans to solve organizational or departmental problems.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
Knowledge
- Administration and Management
- Personnel and Human Resources
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Economics and Accounting
Work styles that stand out
- Social Orientation
- Self-Control
- Stress Tolerance
- Innovation
- Perseverance
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 10 years.
- On-the-job training: over 10 years.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from chief executives
- Treasurers and Controllers81% · group pay
- Financial Managers79% · −22%
- Public Relations Managers73% · −31%
- Investment Fund Managers72% · group pay
- Sales Managers72% · −31%
Change into chief executives
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Treasurers and Controllers86% · $166,570
- Investment Fund Managers84% · $166,570
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary83% · $104,590
- Lawyers83% · $159,670
- Sales Managers83% · $148,270
Majors that lead here
- Public Administration
- Business/Commerce, General
- Business Administration and Management, General
- Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management
- Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Finance, General
- International Business/Trade/Commerce
- Management Science
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.