Chief Executives Career, Salary and Skills
Chief Executives have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $213,990 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 204,350. Wage data is published for 365 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
11-1011.00
Job zone
5
Typical education
Master's Degree
Experience
Over 10 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$213,990
Hourly median
$102.88
Employment
204,350
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.75 | 5.38 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.38 | 4.75 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.38 | 4.88 |
| Coordination | 4.25 | 4.88 |
| Management of Financial Resources | 4.25 | 5.25 |
| Speaking | 4.25 | 4.75 |
| Systems Evaluation | 4.25 | 5.00 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 4.25 | 5.25 |
| Writing | 4.12 | 4.38 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.12 | 4.62 |
Typical tasks
- 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 or coordinate an organization's financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.
Technology
- Adobe Acrobat
- AdSense Tracker
- Atlassian JIRA
- Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge
- ComputerEase construction accounting software
- Database reporting software
- Databox
- Email software
- Exact Software Macola ES Labor Performance
- Extensible markup language XML
- Fund accounting software
- Graphic presentation software
- Halogen e360
- Halogen ePraisal
Chief Executives salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Chief Executives Salary in CAMedian $218,600 · Employment 34,700
- Chief Executives Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $234,290 · Employment 10,800
- Chief Executives Salary in PAMedian $232,560 · Employment 8,850
- Chief Executives Salary in TXMedian $257,850 · Employment 8,780
- Chief Executives Salary in NYMedian $257,980 · Employment 8,430
- Chief Executives Salary in New York, NYMedian $301,440 · Employment 7,180
- Chief Executives Salary in MNMedian $195,670 · Employment 6,740
- Chief Executives Salary in San Francisco, CAMedian $288,690 · Employment 5,190
- Chief Executives Salary in MIMedian $255,560 · Employment 4,950
- Chief Executives Salary in VAMedian $310,740 · Employment 4,870
- Chief Executives Salary in TNMedian $198,830 · Employment 4,700
- Chief Executives Salary in ILMedian $331,920 · Employment 4,620
Related careers
- Sales ManagersNational median $148,270
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveNational median $47,540
- Financial ExaminersNational median $94,160
- Labor Relations SpecialistsNational median $95,420
- Public Relations SpecialistsNational median $74,750
- Human Resources ManagersNational median $149,280
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersNational median $87,520
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersNational median $69,500
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.