How to become a chief executive

Management · SOC 11-1011

How you get in

Not an entry-level job: it usually takes a degree plus years of related work.

1. Bachelor's degree
2. 5 years or more of experience in a related job
3. Work as a chief executive

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

See the 2,570 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does it take to become a chief executive?

Typically about four years for the degree, then 5 years or more of related work first. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

How much do chief executives make?

The US median is $213,990 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.

Do you need a degree to become a chief executive?

Yes, and employers also expect years of related experience first.

Where can you train to become a chief executive?

2,570 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

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