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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.

Watch this work See majors and colleges
Other titles employers use

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)

Inside the work

What you would actually do.

6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.

  • 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.

Who it suits

Would this work hold your attention?

This career often appeals to people drawn to persuading, organizing and helping work.

Persuading
Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
Organizing
Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate

Skills and strengths

What you would get good at.

Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.

Core skills

  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Critical Thinking
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Speaking
  • Coordination
  • Systems Evaluation

Subjects to know

  • Administration and Management
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • English Language
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Economics and Accounting

Useful strengths

  • Oral Comprehension
  • Oral Expression
  • Written Comprehension
  • Speech Clarity
  • Written Expression

Working day

Picture yourself doing it.

These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.

How this job scores on four measures of working conditions, out of five
MeasureOut of 5What that means here
Close to other people2.7 Largely your own space
On your feet2.1 Mostly seated
Talking face to face4.9 Continuous — the job is conversations
Working with your hands2.2 Little of the day

Preparation

How people prepare for this work.

Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.

  • A master's degree 46%
  • A four-year degree 32%
  • A doctorate or professional degree 12%
  • A two-year degree 5%
  • High school or less 5%

Tools of the work

Technology you may use.

  • Enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Data base user interface and query software
  • Document management software
  • Accounting software
  • Electronic mail software
  • Project management software
  • Presentation software
  • Content workflow software

Opportunity near you

See where this work is growing.

Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.

Selected stateCalifornia
People doing this work
48,600
Job openings each year
2,990
Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
−6.0%
Compare every available state
State People doing it Job openings each year Expected change
California 48,600 2,990 −6.0%
Florida 24,490 1,600 —
Georgia 14,820 960 −1.3%
Missouri 8,820 540 −6.5%
New York 7,910 0 —
Tennessee 7,440 510 3.8%
Illinois 7,240 420 −10.1%
Maryland 7,140 450 −4.3%
Texas 7,120 480 1.9%
Wisconsin 5,850 360 −5.3%
Washington 5,680 490 13.4%
Ohio 5,290 310 −10.3%
Massachusetts 4,790 280 −8.6%
Oklahoma 4,710 290 −6.7%
Utah 4,450 310 5.2%
Nebraska 4,240 270 −3.6%
Kansas 4,090 240 −8.3%
Iowa 3,920 240 −6.9%
Arizona 3,880 250 −1.8%
Arkansas 3,820 240 −2.8%
Idaho 3,730 240 —
Michigan 3,640 210 −9.9%
Kentucky 3,540 210 −7.6%
South Carolina 3,330 220 —
North Carolina 2,570 160 −2.7%
Indiana 2,410 150 −6.6%
North Dakota 2,200 130 −6.8%
Maine 2,080 120 −11.1%
Alabama 1,910 120 −5.9%
West Virginia 1,900 120 −6.9%
Alaska 1,860 130 6.9%
New Jersey 1,450 90 −8.2%
Nevada 1,430 100 2.1%
Oregon 1,240 80 −3.1%
Vermont 1,220 80 −1.6%
Colorado 1,210 80 —
South Dakota 1,170 80 —
Mississippi 1,060 70 −4.5%
Montana 930 60 3.3%
New Hampshire 770 50 −4.9%
Connecticut 700 50 −2.8%
Louisiana 560 30 −6.7%
Delaware 470 30 −9.6%
Rhode Island 460 30 −4.2%
Guam 430 30 −2.3%
Wyoming 200 10 −4.8%
Virgin Islands 100 10 −16.7%

Career to college

Build a path toward this work.

Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.

CareerChief Executives
Most direct field Business and management Related field Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Related field Public Administration Related field Business, general Related field Finance Related field International Business Related field Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

Where to study

Colleges with strong activity in these fields.

Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.

NH

Southern New Hampshire University

Degrees each year
5,901
Admit rate
96%
Annual cost after aid
$37,000
Open college UT

Western Governors University

Degrees each year
2,505
Admit rate
Not reported
Annual cost after aid
$13,000
Open college CA

California State University-Fullerton

Degrees each year
2,217
Admit rate
87%
Annual cost after aid
$6,000
Open college CA

San Diego State University

Degrees each year
2,170
Admit rate
34%
Annual cost after aid
$13,000
Open college CA

San Jose State University

Degrees each year
1,657
Admit rate
80%
Annual cost after aid
$12,000
Open college MD

University of Maryland Global Campus

Degrees each year
1,649
Admit rate
Not reported
Annual cost after aid
—
Open college VA

Liberty University

Degrees each year
1,543
Admit rate
99%
Annual cost after aid
$27,000
Open college CA

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Degrees each year
1,523
Admit rate
74%
Annual cost after aid
$11,000
Open college

Compare every college offering business administration, management and operations

Keep exploring

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