CFChooseField
Management

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.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Chief Executives

Median pay

$206,420
Median annual pay for Chief Executives.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

4.3%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

22,200
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

309,400
Estimated U.S. employment for Chief Executives in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

+13,300
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

Bachelor's degree
Typical additional preparation: 5 years or more of related work experience.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Critical Thinking
  2. 2Speaking
  3. 3Reading Comprehension
  4. 4Writing
  5. 5Active Listening
  6. 6Monitoring

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Administration and Management
  2. 2Personnel and Human Resources
  3. 3English Language
  4. 4Customer and Personal Service
  5. 5Economics and Accounting
  6. 6Public Safety and Security

Abilities

  1. 1Oral Comprehension
  2. 2Oral Expression
  3. 3Speech Clarity
  4. 4Written Comprehension
  5. 5Deductive Reasoning
  6. 6Written Expression

Career interests

  1. 1Enterprising
  2. 2Conventional
  3. 3Social
  4. 4Investigative
  5. 5Artistic
  6. 6Realistic

Work styles

  1. 1Leadership Orientation
  2. 2Dependability
  3. 3Integrity
  4. 4Achievement Orientation
  5. 5Adaptability
  6. 6Self-Confidence

Work activities

  1. 1Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  2. 2Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  3. 3Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  4. 4Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
  5. 5Coaching and Developing Others
  6. 6Developing and Building Teams

Work context

  1. 1E-Mail
  2. 2Freedom to Make Decisions
  3. 3Telephone Conversations
  4. 4Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  5. 5Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  6. 6Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals

Representative 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.

Software and tools

Microsoft Excel · in demandMicrosoft Office software · in demandMicrosoft Outlook · in demandMicrosoft PowerPoint · in demandStructured query language SQL · hot technologyMicrosoft Access · hot technologyIntuit QuickBooks · hot technologyMicrosoft Project · hot technologyMicrosoft SharePoint · hot technologyMicrosoft Word · hot technologyAdobe Acrobat · hot technologyExtensible markup language XML · hot technology

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.