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.

$105,350

Median Annual Pay

Jobs growth:

+4% projected 2024–2034

Bachelor's degree

Typical Entry-Level Education

What They Do

Chief executives set the strategic direction for entire organizations, making high-level decisions that affect every department and employee. They work closely with boards of directors to establish company-wide policies and long-term goals, then oversee their implementation across all divisions. On a typical day, they might review financial reports, meet with department heads to address operational challenges, approve major expenditures or initiatives, and represent the organization at important meetings with stakeholders, investors, or community leaders.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations(masters)University of Pennsylvania, PA

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(masters)Dartmouth College, NH

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(masters)Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(professional)University of California-Berkeley, CA

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(masters)Columbia University in the City of New York, NY

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(masters)University of Chicago, IL

International Business(masters)Duke University, NC

Business/Commerce(masters)Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA

Business/Commerce(masters)Northwestern University, IL

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(masters)New York University, NY

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(masters)Georgetown University, DC

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(masters)Carnegie Mellon University, PA

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(masters)University of California-Los Angeles, CA

Business/Commerce(masters)Emory University, GA

Business/Commerce(masters)University of Virginia-Main Campus, VA

International Business(masters)Tulane University of Louisiana, LA

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(grad-cert)University of Southern California, CA

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(masters)University of California-Davis, CA

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(professional)University of Notre Dame, IN

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(masters)Northwestern University, IL

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(masters)University of San Francisco, CA

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(masters)Vanderbilt University, TN

Business/Commerce(masters)Michigan State University, MI

Public Administration(masters)Harvard University, MA

Business/Commerce(masters)University of Denver, CO

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