Management
Chief executive
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.
Median pay
$213,990
Growth to 2035
+3%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
19,100
Time to qualify*
5 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Chief executive
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- 5 years or more
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Chief executive: 86% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
Also called: CEO (Chief Executive Officer) · Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) · Chief Financial Officer (CFO) · Chief Information Officer (CIO) · Chief Operating Officer (COO) · Chief Technical Officer (CTO) · Executive Director · Executive Vice President (EVP)
Outlook and AI
Chief executives held 291,600 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 300,900 by 2035 (+3%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Chief executive vs. General and operations managers
- Chief executive vs. Management analyst
- Chief executive vs. Financial manager
- Chief executive vs. Social and community service managers
- Chief executive vs. Public relations manager
- Chief executive vs. Managers, all other
- Chief executive vs. Education administrators, postsecondary