Occupations · 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.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 11-1011.00

$206,420median annual wage, May 2024

211,850people employed, United States

▲ 4.3%projected change, 2024→2034

22,200openings a year, incl. replacements

What it pays

A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage

Pay over time

Median up 53% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

Where the jobs are

Metro area	Median wage	Employed
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$231,500	12,420
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$210,000	4,590
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA	$159,800	3,710
Pittsburgh, PA	$210,810	2,560
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$179,170	2,220
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ	$164,980	2,160
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$197,190	2,070
Salt Lake City, UT	$179,450	2,010
San Juan-Carolina-Caguas, PR	$96,520	1,910
St. Louis, MO-IL	$172,600	1,840
Jacksonville, FL	$173,090	1,540
Kansas City, MO-KS	$195,850	1,410

BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation

Typical education to enter: Bachelor's degree · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

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.
Interpret and explain policies, rules, regulations, or laws to organizations, government or corporate officials, or individuals.
Review reports submitted by staff members to recommend approval or to suggest changes.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Critical Thinking4.4

Speaking4.2

Reading Comprehension4.1

Writing4.1

Active Listening4.0

Monitoring4.0

Active Learning3.8

Mathematics3.2

Learning Strategies3.1

Science1.6

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Adobe Acrobat●Atlassian JIRA●Extensible markup language XML●Intuit QuickBooks●Microsoft Access●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Project●Microsoft SharePoint●Microsoft Word●Oracle PeopleSoft●PHP●SAP software●Structured query language SQL●AdSense TrackerBlackbaud The Raiser's EdgeComputerEase construction accounting softwareDatabase reporting softwareDataboxEmail softwareExact Software Macola ES Labor PerformanceFund accounting softwareGraphic presentation softwareHCSS HeavyBidHCSS HeavyJobHalogen e360

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

5 / 5Extensive preparation — graduate school, and often a licence on top.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers+1.4 above average

Exposed to Contaminants−1.3 below average

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets−1.2 below average

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls−1.1 below average

Written Letters and Memos+1.1 above average

Spend Time Sitting+1.1 above average

E-Mail+1.0 above average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2023-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Master's Degree46%

Bachelor's Degree32%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)5%

Doctoral Degree5%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2023-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Enterprising7.0

Conventional5.0

Social3.5

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Judgment and Decision Making4.8

Complex Problem Solving4.4

Management of Personnel Resources4.2

Management of Financial Resources4.2

Systems Evaluation4.2

Coordination4.2

Social Perceptiveness4.1

Negotiation4.1

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Administration and ManagementPersonnel and Human ResourcesEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal ServiceEconomics and AccountingPublic Safety and Security

Abilities it leans on

Oral ComprehensionOral ExpressionSpeech ClarityWritten ComprehensionDeductive ReasoningWritten Expression

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

PresidentStaff ChiefChief WardenBureau ChiefCommissionerAgency OwnerBank PresidentMusic ExecutiveMedia ExecutiveWelfare DirectorTax CommissionerExecutive OfficerRoad CommissionerNonprofit Director

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 4 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 12

+Microsoft Dynamics GP+Microsoft Dynamics+Fund accounting software+SmugMug Flickr+PHP+Atlassian JIRA+Microsoft SharePoint+Sage 50 Accounting+Extensible markup language XML+Relational database management software+Adobe Acrobat+Mentimeter

No longer listed 3

−Microsoft Great Plains software−Sage Peachtree software−Enterprise resource planning ERP software

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

MayorChairmanGovernorPresidentTreasurerFire ChiefSupervisorChancellorStaff ChiefCity ManagerBureau ChiefAgency Owner

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
chief executive officer	1120.3	exact
secretary general	1112.7	close
chief operating officer	1120.4	broader
airport chief executive	1120.3.1	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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