Overview
SourcedDetermine 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 definition of Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) · Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed.
Occupation figures cover every job classified under SOC 11-1011, including Governor.
Titles employers use
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Requirements
Sourced- Education needed to enter
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
Education workers say the job requires
Share of surveyed workers in Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) naming each level as required to be hired, 28 respondents, O*NET survey August 2023. Each employer sets its own minimum.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4); U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.
How to get hired
SourcedTop executives typically need at least a bachelor's degree and considerable work experience to enter the occupation.
From the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile “Top Executives”, published August 27, 2026 · Read the full profile. National guidance; each employer runs its own hiring process.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–35 edition (XML compilation). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Academy and training
Sourced- SOC 11-1011
- None
- Job zone
- Extensive Preparation Needed
Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Promotion ladder
EditorialFixed salary (elected, appointed or per diem): elected/appointed; salary set by statute or ordinance. Typical structure for a elected, appointed or per-diem position; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.
- Elected or appointed; salary set by statute/ordinance or board contract (no ladder — compare peers)
Source: GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial).
Pay
SourcedMedian annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.
| Employer type | Workers | 10th pct. | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | 9,130 | $52,000 | $104,100 | $169,420 | $215,100 | $339,890 |
| Local | 26,310 | $75,190 | $113,950 | $164,620 | $223,320 | $313,430 |
| All government | 35,470 | $63,950 | $110,980 | $166,210 | $222,490 | $317,620 |
| Private sector | 168,880 | $77,680 | $135,010 | $229,260 | $381,560 | $536,070 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Schedule
SourcedShare of surveyed workers in the occupation (O*NET work context, August 2023). Shift patterns and differentials depend on the employer.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Day-to-day work
Sourced- Direct or coordinate an organization's financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.4.5
- Confer with board members, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems.4.3
- Prepare budgets for approval, including those for funding or implementation of programs.4.3
- 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.4.2
- Prepare or present reports concerning activities, expenses, budgets, government statutes or rulings, or other items affecting businesses or program services.4.2
- Implement corrective action plans to solve organizational or departmental problems.4.1
- 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.4.1
- Direct or coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products.4.1
- 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.4.1
- Appoint department heads or managers and assign or delegate responsibilities to them.4.1
The 10 most important of 20 core tasks for Chief Executives, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2023.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Related jobs
DerivedBy state
SourcedMedian annual wage for Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.
| State | Workers | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 910 | $179,550 | $341,630 | $772,840 |
| Washington | 3,170 | $160,110 | $339,810 | $607,100 |
| Illinois | 4,620 | $133,170 | $331,920 | $589,720 |
| North Carolina | 1,930 | $114,210 | $314,290 | $624,990 |
| Virginia | 4,870 | $130,000 | $310,740 | $604,090 |
| New Jersey | 2,430 | $173,560 | $310,440 | $666,030 |
| Connecticut | 1,660 | $156,680 | $295,120 | $680,080 |
| Hawaii | 470 | $100,030 | $281,640 | $493,870 |
| South Dakota | 510 | $175,590 | $280,900 | $546,760 |
| New York | 8,430 | $140,410 | $257,980 | $657,630 |
| Texas | 8,780 | $121,130 | $257,850 | $558,550 |
| Michigan | 4,950 | $104,010 | $255,560 | $547,090 |
| Indiana | 1,820 | $97,340 | $254,180 | $494,080 |
| Maryland | 3,180 | $139,990 | $248,660 | $486,860 |
| Rhode Island | 460 | $113,970 | $235,360 | $561,080 |
| Pennsylvania | 8,850 | $118,810 | $232,560 | $528,200 |
| California | 34,700 | $85,790 | $218,600 | $486,830 |
| Nebraska | 2,510 | $107,200 | $214,680 | $515,360 |
| Colorado | Not published | $88,400 | $213,370 | $402,230 |
| Iowa | 3,050 | $86,090 | $211,190 | $365,320 |
| Wisconsin | Not published | $103,560 | $208,350 | $426,290 |
| Georgia | 4,080 | $57,290 | $208,180 | $517,910 |
| Delaware | 390 | $119,990 | $199,990 | $523,940 |
| Tennessee | 4,700 | $64,520 | $198,830 | $474,740 |
| Minnesota | 6,740 | $92,540 | $195,670 | $449,270 |
| Montana | 670 | $73,970 | $182,340 | $432,240 |
| Kentucky | 2,070 | $72,800 | $179,530 | $466,660 |
| Idaho | 2,920 | $103,360 | $177,210 | $403,230 |
| Ohio | 4,470 | $79,390 | $176,440 | $484,820 |
| Vermont | 360 | $108,300 | $175,070 | $428,080 |
| Missouri | 2,550 | $75,040 | $172,320 | $416,060 |
| Utah | 3,140 | $72,480 | $171,880 | $424,690 |
| South Carolina | 1,740 | $49,760 | $168,840 | $393,490 |
| New Hampshire | Not published | $103,990 | $168,590 | $397,850 |
| Alaska | 640 | $75,870 | $166,710 | $428,990 |
| Alabama | 810 | $101,670 | $166,420 | $317,400 |
| North Dakota | 380 | $104,590 | $164,560 | $464,030 |
| Oklahoma | 2,390 | $68,630 | $163,790 | $387,310 |
| Kansas | 1,960 | $51,120 | $158,100 | $453,350 |
| West Virginia | 1,700 | $72,160 | $151,950 | $403,020 |
| Nevada | 1,370 | $58,670 | $149,770 | $517,310 |
| Wyoming | 60 | $34,690 | $147,940 | $276,940 |
| Mississippi | 310 | $101,930 | $139,250 | $304,040 |
| Maine | 1,580 | $73,680 | $138,770 | $401,950 |
| New Mexico | 100 | $43,710 | $123,500 | $302,440 |
| Arkansas | 3,550 | $49,830 | $119,990 | $330,480 |
46 states with published estimates.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Not yet collected
These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.
- 05 ProbationNot yet collectedProbation length and what ends it
- 09 Benefits and pensionNot yet collectedPension plan/tier and formula, retirement age/years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b), PSLF eligibility
- 10 Union contractsNot yet collectedBargaining unit, union, current CBA (source link, effective dates)
- 11 Transfers and lateral entryNot yet collectedLateral policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonus, inter-agency moves
- 14 Exam practiceNot yet collectedNamed exams → OpenExamPrep practice
- 15 Employer directoryNot yet collectedL4 directory: every employer that hires this job, each with its own facet values