Chief Executives

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.

Salary by State

State Name Employment Annual Salary Hourly Salary
Alabama 690 $150,260 $72.24
Alaska 1,260 $148,400 $71.35
Arizona 3,560 $150,990 $72.59
Arkansas 2,550 $142,510 $68.51
California 33,930 $230,730 $110.93
Colorado 740 $192,040 $92.33
Connecticut 570 $243,140 $116.89
District of Columbia 1,700 $290,560 $139.69
Florida 19,610 $215,050 $103.39
Hawaii 360 $289,860 $139.36
Illinois 8,500 $244,390 $117.50
Indiana 1,480 $206,910 $99.48
Iowa 2,910 $191,010 $91.83
Kansas 2,790 $168,160 $80.85
Kentucky 3,070 $192,590 $92.59
Louisiana 880 $187,880 $90.33
Maine 1,580 $149,440 $71.85
Maryland 5,260 $225,160 $108.25
Massachusetts 5,580 $267,070 $128.40
Michigan 3,040 $258,270 $124.17
Minnesota 6,330 $213,270 $102.53
Mississippi $131,600 $63.27
Missouri 3,130 $189,620 $91.17
Montana 440 $163,200 $78.46
Nebraska 1,870 $224,420 $107.89
Nevada 1,120 $224,580 $107.97
New Hampshire 530 $191,850 $92.24
New Jersey 1,250 $253,150 $121.71
New York 4,230 $256,810 $123.46
North Carolina 2,170 $262,660 $126.28
North Dakota 150 $181,710 $87.36
Ohio 4,590 $214,990 $103.36
Oklahoma 3,920 $148,610 $71.45
Oregon 770 $251,440 $120.88
Pennsylvania 7,510 $232,630 $111.84
Rhode Island 370 $243,400 $117.02
South Carolina 2,920 $195,930 $94.20
South Dakota 440 $272,780 $131.14
Tennessee 6,260 $176,650 $84.93
Texas 5,380 $264,210 $127.03
Utah 4,460 $185,890 $89.37
Vermont 530 $184,950 $88.92
Virginia $243,750 $117.19
Washington 2,990 $279,590 $134.42
West Virginia 1,370 $180,700 $86.87
Wisconsin 3,540 $217,480 $104.56
Wyoming 140 $124,940 $60.07

Education

The programs listed below are typically the education paths that can land you this kind of job.

A program that prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state, and federal government and that focuses on the systematic study of executive organization and management. Includes instruction in the roles, development, and principles of public administration; the management of public policy; executive-legislative relations; public budgetary processes and financial management; administrative law; public personnel management; professional ethics; and research methods.

Master's Degree Post-Baccalaureate Certification
Master's Degree
Master's Degree
Master's Degree Post-Baccalaureate Certification
Bachelor's Degree Doctorate Degree Master's Degree Post-Baccalaureate Certification

A program that focuses on the general study of business, including the processes of interchanging goods and services (buying, selling and producing), business organization, and accounting as used in profit-making and nonprofit public and private institutions and agencies. The programs may prepare individuals to apply business principles and techniques in various occupational settings.

Bachelor's Degree Master's Degree
Faulkner University
Faulkner University
Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's Degree
Huntingdon College
Huntingdon College
Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's Degree
Certificate

A program that generally prepares individuals to plan, organize, direct, and control the functions and processes of a firm or organization. Includes instruction in management theory, human resources management and behavior, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making.

Bachelor's Degree Master's Degree
Certificate Bachelor's Degree Master's Degree Post-Baccalaureate Certification
Amridge University
Amridge University
Montgomery, AL
Associate Degree Bachelor's Degree Master's Degree
Bachelor's Degree Master's Degree
Bachelor's Degree

A program that prepares individuals to manage the business affairs of non-profit corporations, including foundations, educational institutions, associations, and other such organizations, and public agencies and governmental operations. Includes instruction in business management, principles of public administration, principles of accounting and financial management, human resources management, taxation of non-profit organizations, and business law as applied to non-profit organizations.

Certificate Bachelor's Degree Master's Degree Post-Baccalaureate Certification
Certificate

A program that generally prepares individuals to perform development, marketing and management functions associated with owning and operating a business.

Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Samford University
Samford University
Birmingham, AL
Bachelor's Degree
Post-Baccalaureate Certification

A program that focuses on blending entrepreneurial ideas and management skills for issue advocacy and social change. Includes instruction in philanthropy, business modeling, design, entrepreneurship, finance, investing, resource management, project management, prototype development, and marketing.

Rollins College
Rollins College
Winter Park, FL
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree
SUNY Empire State College
SUNY Empire State College
Saratoga Springs, NY
Post-Baccalaureate Certification
Bachelor's Degree

A program that generally prepares individuals to plan, manage, and analyze the financial and monetary aspects and performance of business enterprises, banking institutions, or other organizations. Includes instruction in principles of accounting, financial instruments, capital planning, funds acquisition, asset and debt management, budgeting, financial analysis, and investments and portfolio management.

Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's Degree Doctorate Degree Master's Degree

A program that prepares individuals to manage international businesses and/or business operations. Includes instruction in the principles and processes of export sales, trade controls, foreign operations and related problems, monetary issues, international business policy, and applications to doing business in specific countries and markets.

Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree

A general program that focuses on the application of statistical modeling, data warehousing, data mining, programming, forecasting and operations research techniques to the analysis of problems of business organization and performance. Includes instruction in optimization theory and mathematical techniques, data mining, data warehousing, stochastic and dynamic modeling, operations analysis, and the design and testing of prototype systems and evaluation models.

Master's Degree
Bachelor's Degree Doctorate Degree Master's Degree
Bachelor's Degree Post-Baccalaureate Certification
Faulkner University
Faulkner University
Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's Degree Master's Degree
  • $213,020 per year
    National average salary
    Declining
    Job growth rate
  • Bachelor's degree
    Typical education requirement
  • 5 years or more
    Typical experience requirement

Educational Attainment

The following chart shows the highest education level completed by those working as chief executives.

  • Less than high school 2%
  • High school graduate 8%
  • College dropout 14%
  • Associate’s degree 5%
  • Bachelor’s degree 40%
  • Master’s degree 24%
  • Doctorate degree 7%

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