Chief executives
SOC Code: 11-1011Also known as:
Aeronautics Commission Director, Agency Owner, Agricultural Services Director, Arts and Humanities Council Director, Bank President
Median Annual Salary
$206,420
+4.3% growth (2024-2034)
22K
Openings/Year
309K
Current Jobs
What Chief executives Do
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.
💰 Salary
$206,420
Median annual wage (2024)
📈 Job Growth
+4.3%
Faster than average
🎓 Education
Bachelor's degree
Typical entry-level requirement
🚀 Annual Openings
22K
Projected average per year
👔 Work Experience
5 years or more
Required before entry
Employment Projections (2024-2034)
Current Employment (2024)
309,400
Projected Employment (2034)
322,700
Related Careers
General and operations managers
$102,950 •
+4.4% growth
Financial managers
$161,700 •
+14.8% growth
Management analysts
$101,190 •
+8.8% growth
Business operations specialists, all other
$81,270 •
+3.0% growth
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
$80,060 •
+4.4% growth
Top Skills Required
Judgment and Decision Making
Critical Thinking
Complex Problem Solving
Speaking
Coordination
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
- Direct or coordinate an organization's financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.
- Confer with board members, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems.
- Prepare budgets for approval, including those for funding or implementation of programs.
- Direct, plan, or implement policies, objectives, or activities of organizations or businesses to ensure continuing operations, to maximize returns on investments, or to increase productivity.
- Prepare or present reports concerning activities, expenses, budgets, government statutes or rulings, or other items affecting businesses or program services.
- Implement corrective action plans to solve organizational or departmental problems.
- Analyze operations to evaluate performance of a company or its staff in meeting objectives or to determine areas of potential cost reduction, program improvement, or policy change.
- Direct or coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products.
- Direct human resources activities, including the approval of human resource plans or activities, the selection of directors or other high-level staff, or establishment or organization of major departments.
- Appoint department heads or managers and assign or delegate responsibilities to them.
Technology & Tools
📚 Entry-Level Education
Bachelor's degree
Most common requirement
🎯 Recommended Education
Master's Degree
O*NET recommended level
Degree Programs for Chief executives
These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a chief executives:
Business Administration and Management, General
336,590 degrees awarded •
2,332 colleges offer this program
Business/Commerce, General
57,976 degrees awarded •
815 colleges offer this program
Finance, General
49,828 degrees awarded •
745 colleges offer this program
Management Science
34,245 degrees awarded •
348 colleges offer this program
Public Administration
13,898 degrees awarded •
426 colleges offer this program
Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies
10,661 degrees awarded •
548 colleges offer this program
International Business/Trade/Commerce
6,933 degrees awarded •
392 colleges offer this program
Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management
2,454 degrees awarded •
185 colleges offer this program
Social Entrepreneurship
77 degrees awarded •
10 colleges offer this program
Best Colleges for Becoming a Chief executives
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become chief executives.
Want this ranking as a spreadsheet? Investor Pro+ members can export any Repit table to CSV. See plans →
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do chief executives make?
The median annual salary for chief executives is $206,420.
What education do chief executives need?
Most chief executives positions require a bachelor's degree.
Common degree programs include Business Administration and Management, General, Business/Commerce, General, Finance, General.
Is becoming chief executives a good career choice?
Chief executives is projected to see +4.3% job growth from 2024 to 2034,
which is about average for all occupations. With approximately 22,200 job openings expected annually,
there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for chief executives?
Top colleges for aspiring chief executives include
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Southern California, Northwestern University, New York University, Boston University.
These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to chief executives?
Chief executives may also be known as: Aeronautics Commission Director, Agency Owner, Agricultural Services Director, Arts and Humanities Council Director, Bank President, Bureau Chief, Business Development Executive (BD Executive), Business Development Officer (BD Officer), Business Enterprise Officer, Business Executive, CEO (Chief Executive Officer), Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Chief Diversity Officer (CDO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Information Officer (CIO), Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Chief Innovation Officer (CINO), Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Technical Officer (CTO).
These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.