Jobs Similar to Chief Executives
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to chief executives, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Sales Managers, First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers and Human Resources Managers.
Chief Executives: $213,990 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Chief Executives) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sales Managers | 84% | $148,270−31% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | 83% | $87,520−59% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Human Resources Managers | 83% | $149,280−30% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Financial Managers | 83% | $166,570−22% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Compensation and Benefits Managers | 82% | $149,230−30% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Marketing Managers | 82% | $166,790−22% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | General and Operations ManagersSame group | 82% | $105,770−51% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Purchasing Managers | 81% | $148,080−31% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Medical and Health Services Managers | 81% | $123,860−42% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Treasurers and Controllers | 81% | $166,570Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Information Technology Project Managers | 81% | $116,580Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | 81% | $78,660−63% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Project Management Specialists | 80% | $102,320−52% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Fundraising Managers | 80% | $125,470−41% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Investment Fund Managers | 80% | $166,570Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Education Administrators, Postsecondary | 79% | $104,590−51% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Labor Relations Specialists | 79% | $95,420−55% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Gambling Managers | 79% | $93,220−56% | High school |
| 19 | Advertising and Promotions Managers | 79% | $133,660−38% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Fundraisers | 79% | $72,550−66% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Sales Managers
84% similar · $148,270 (−31%) · Bachelor's degree
- 2First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
83% similar · $87,520 (−59%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Human Resources Managers
83% similar · $149,280 (−30%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Financial Managers
83% similar · $166,570 (−22%) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Compensation and Benefits Managers
82% similar · $149,230 (−30%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Marketing Managers
82% similar · $166,790 (−22%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7General and Operations Managers
82% similar · $105,770 (−51%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 8Purchasing Managers
81% similar · $148,080 (−31%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Medical and Health Services Managers
81% similar · $123,860 (−42%) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Treasurers and Controllers
81% similar · $166,570 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Information Technology Project Managers
81% similar · $116,580 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
81% similar · $78,660 (−63%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Project Management Specialists
80% similar · $102,320 (−52%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Fundraising Managers
80% similar · $125,470 (−41%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Investment Fund Managers
80% similar · $166,570 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 16Education Administrators, Postsecondary
79% similar · $104,590 (−51%) · Graduate degree
- 17Labor Relations Specialists
79% similar · $95,420 (−55%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Gambling Managers
79% similar · $93,220 (−56%) · High school
- 19Advertising and Promotions Managers
79% similar · $133,660 (−38%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Fundraisers
79% similar · $72,550 (−66%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Sales Managers84% similar · Bachelor's degree
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers83% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Human Resources Managers83% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Financial Managers83% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Compensation and Benefits Managers82% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Marketing Managers82% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for chief executives also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where chief executives is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like chief executives
What jobs are most similar to chief executives?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Sales Managers (84% similar), First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers (83% similar), Human Resources Managers (83% similar), Financial Managers (83% similar) and Compensation and Benefits Managers (82% similar).
Do jobs like chief executives pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than chief executives where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.