# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chief-executives
- SOC code: 11-1011.00
- Career family: Management
- Median annual pay: $213,990 (10th percentile $75,700, 90th percentile $507,730)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +3.2%
- Openings a year: 19,100
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code ECS)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 4 |
| Investigative (I) | 34 |
| Artistic (A) | 19 |
| Social (S) | 42 |
| Enterprising (E) | 99 |
| Conventional (C) | 66 |

## What you'd do

- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 96/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 95/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 94/100)
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates (importance 94/100)
- Coaching and Developing Others (importance 93/100)
- Developing and Building Teams (importance 91/100)
- Developing Objectives and Strategies (importance 89/100)
- Getting Information (importance 89/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 89/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 88/100)

## Skills

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

## Knowledge

Administration and Management, Personnel and Human Resources, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Economics and Accounting, Public Safety and Security, Computers and Electronics, Sales and Marketing, Mathematics, Education and Training

## Also called

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

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Business Administration, Management and Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5202) (CIP 5202, 2,372 colleges)
- [Business/Commerce, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5201) (CIP 5201, 975 colleges)
- [Finance and Financial Management Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5208) (CIP 5208, 924 colleges)
- [Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5207) (CIP 5207, 919 colleges)
- [Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5213) (CIP 5213, 631 colleges)
- [International Business](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5211) (CIP 5211, 569 colleges)
- [Public Administration](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4404) (CIP 4404, 482 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Washington University in St Louis WUSTL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-university-in-st-louis-wustl-3172) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $108,590 | $185,551 | $20,750 |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $97,419 | $160,783 | $19,000 |
| [University of Notre Dame-South Bend IN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-notre-dame-south-bend-in-3005) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $141,543 | $160,313 | $19,500 |
| [Georgetown University-DC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgetown-university-dc-1068) | International Business | not reported | $159,452 | $13,500 |
| [New York University NYU](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-york-university-nyu-1866) | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $111,101 | $158,559 | $13,250 |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $125,147 | $153,279 | $11,250 |
| [Boston College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/boston-college-285) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $92,127 | $147,746 | $18,650 |
| [Wake Forest University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wake-forest-university-3149) | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | not reported | $146,608 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [General and Operations Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/general-and-operations-managers): $105,770 median pay
- [Management Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/management-analysts): $101,860 median pay
- [Treasurers and Controllers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/treasurers-and-controllers): $166,570 median pay
- [Social and Community Service Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/social-and-community-service-managers): $80,390 median pay
- [Public Relations Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/public-relations-managers): $146,910 median pay
- [Compliance Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/compliance-managers): $141,900 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.