Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- CEO (Chief Executive Officer)
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
- Chief Operating Officer (COO)
- President
Alternate Job Titles
- 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
- CEO (Chief Executive Officer)
- Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
- Chief Diversity Officer (CDO)
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
- Chief Information Officer (CIO)
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- 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
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Management of Financial Resources
- Speaking
- Systems Evaluation
- Coordination
- Negotiation
- Systems Analysis
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Written Expression
- Speech Recognition
- Problem Sensitivity
- Inductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Leadership Orientation
- Integrity
- Dependability
- Achievement Orientation
- Adaptability
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Recognition
- Independence
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Support
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Master's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 10 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 10 years
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Atlassian JIRA
- Extensible markup language XML
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Project
Tools & Equipment
- 10-key calculators
- Desktop computers
- Laptop computers
- Personal computers
- Personal digital assistants PDA
- Smartphones
- Universal serial bus USB flash drives
Work Environment
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $73,710 |
| Median | $206,420 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | >$239,200 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 211,850
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
General and Operations Managers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $102,950
Management Analysts
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $101,190
Treasurers and Controllers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $161,700
Social and Community Service Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $78,240
Public Relations Managers
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $138,520
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.