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.

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), Operations Vice President (Operations VP), President, 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, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Chief Innovation Officer (CINO), Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Chief Warden, Commissioner, Consumer Affairs Director, Corporate Executive, Correctional Agency Director, County Commissioner, County Executive Director, Deputy District Customs Director, Deputy Insurance Commissioner, District Customs Director, Employment Research and Planning Director, Employment Services Director, Executive Officer, Finance Vice President (Finance VP), Financial Institution President, Financial Responsibility Division Director, Foundation Director, Government Service Executive, Health Commissioner, Highway Commissioner, Hospital CFO (Hospital Chief Financial Officer), Institution Director, Insurance Commissioner, Internal Revenue Commissioner, Labor Commissioner, Labor Standards Director, Law Enforcement Director, Licensing and Registration Director, Liquor Commissioner, Liquor Stores and Agencies Supervisor, Media Executive, Medical Facilities Section Director, Music Executive, Nonprofit Director, Police Commissioner, Private Sector Executive, Public Health Director, Public Works Commissioner, Public Works Director, Railroad Commissioner, Regulatory Agency Director, Relocation Commissioner, Road Commissioner, Safety Council Director, Staff Chief, State Assessed Properties Director, Tax Commissioner, Unemployment Insurance Director, Water Commissioner, Welfare Director

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

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.

Skills, machines and equipment

Judgment and Decision Making
Critical Thinking
Complex Problem Solving
Speaking
Coordination
Systems Evaluation
Management of Financial Resources
Management of Personnel Resources
Reading Comprehension
Writing
Social Perceptiveness
Negotiation

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Master's Degree (45.91% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

O*NET Job Zone 5: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

129,540–356,200 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 11-1011.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Suggested development: build experience in safety leadership, staff development, budgeting, and continuous improvement before seeking responsibility for a larger department or plant.
Possible next steps include broader operations or multi-site leadership; vacancies, qualifications, and advancement are employer-specific, not guaranteed.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Master's Degree (45.91% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
O*NET Job Zone 5: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Chief Executives