What Does A Chief Executive Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, OverviewLeave a Comment

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

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
$197840
Becoming One
Very Hard
Education
Master's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality


What they do

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.

  • Direct or coordinate an organization’s financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.
  • Appoint department heads or managers and assign or delegate responsibilities to them.
  • Analyze operations to evaluate the performance of a company or its staff in meeting objectives or to determine areas of potential cost reduction, program improvement, or policy change.
  • Direct, plan, or implement policies, objectives, or activities of organizations or businesses to ensure continuing operations, maximize returns on investments, or increase productivity.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Chief Executives direct or coordinate an organization’s financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency. They direct, plan, or implement policies, objectives, or activities of organizations or businesses to ensure continuing operations, maximize returns on investments, or increase productivity.

A typical day for a Chief Executive will also include:

  • Direct or coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with the production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products.
  • Analyze operations to evaluate the performance of a company or its staff in meeting objectives or to determine areas of potential cost reduction, program improvement, or policy change.
  • Direct non-merchandising departments, such as advertising, purchasing, credit, or accounting.
  • Review reports submitted by staff members to recommend approval or to suggest changes.
  • Confer with board members, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Chief Executives also preside over or serve on boards of directors, management committees, or other governing boards. They may also attend and participate in meetings of municipal councils or council committees.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Chief Executives refer major policy matters to elected representatives for final decisions. They might also serve as liaisons between organizations, shareholders, and outside organizations.

In addition, they negotiate or approve contracts or agreements with suppliers, distributors, federal or state agencies, or other organizational entities.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them review and analyze legislation, laws, or public policy and recommend changes to promote or support the interests of the general population or special groups.

To some Chief Executives, it is also their responsibility to review reports submitted by staff members to recommend approval or to suggest changes.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Very High

Is this job meaningful

Very High

88% said they were satisfied with their job and 74% said they found their job meaningful.


The 180 Group

When I tell people I produce events, most people think I create weddings. But the meetings and events industry does so much more. We don’t just plan expos, meetings, conventions, and events; we’re a highly creative design industry, and our reach is tremendous. In reality, our industry touches every industry — from product launches to … Read More


John Adams IT

The duties of my role vary each day based on the needs of my employees and clients. My typical day I always start my day by arriving at the office around 6:30 am. My days are varied based on what my company and its employees are going through. A standard day will start with me … Read More


Pranos.ai

My Typical Day My typical day is incredibly diverse as a hyper growth startup founder & CEO. I like to divide my day into three parts. The first quadrant is 6 am – 11 am. I book all my Zoom conference calls during this time. Calls usually include – weekly engineering sync up calls, investor … Read More


Soov, a stomach-soothing drink meant to be like ginger ale but made with real ginger, 80% less sugar, and other ingredients that support digestion

The exciting part of being a founder is that your day to day is almost always changing. Nearly everyday you have new challenges and responsibilities to push the business forward. A beverage may seem like a simple product but a lot more goes into it than meets the eye. Some of my key responsibilities are … Read More


RAIN Water

My name is Mark, I founded and run RAIN Water. We are a 1% For The Planet, plastic-free spring water brand. By bottling in aluminum we divert thousands of plastic bottles from the landfills and oceans each day. Our aluminum bottles are back on the shelf as something else within 60 days! Aluminum offers an … Read More


MK Medical Solutions

I’m the CEO & Founder of MK Medical Solutions, LLC, a healthcare operation consulting firm specializing in the implementation stage of starting a healthcare business. My typical workday involves building relationships with health insurance companies, reviewing regulatory compliance standards for different specialty providers under different regulatory agencies, analyzing health insurance provider contracts and reimbursement plans, … Read More


Assured Marketing

My typical day is often ever-changing, but some of the more common themes are meeting with senior managers, liaising with clients, suppliers, and 3rd party freelancers, and strategizing on how to best implement company policy. I arrive at the office, often around 7 am with a pre-planned itinerary from the previous day/week on what meetings … Read More


Wrangu

As the Chief Executive Officer, I am responsible for the profitability, financial strategy, core organization goals, and everyday operations of the business. My typical day begins with a quick meeting with my assistants and staff members, followed by an endless parade of emails, calls, and meetings with clients, stakeholders, and associates. I am also scheduled … Read More


Workever

The CEO’s position is Executive Director. More specifically, our functions and daily life may vary according to the company’s proposal, size, management model, and operational needs to keep it running. In general, the main responsibilities are: To structure and dispel a company’s vision, mission, and objectives; Lead the creation of the organizational culture and be … Read More


Windy City HomeBuyer

I’ve been in the real estate industry for over a decade and I’m the third generation of my family in the business. As you can imagine, I’ve worked in just about every aspect of real estate from paper-pusher to CEO. Nowadays, a typical day involves being out in the community, not so easy in these … Read More


Passion Plans

As the CEO, you really have to make sure that everything is running smoothly as well as making sure that you are delegating the things that you cannot be doing yourself so that more can be done but also to empower your employees. My typical day usually consists of 2 hours of meetings dedicated to … Read More


So Syncd

My sister and I have co-founded a dating app called So Syncd that matches compatible Myers-Briggs personality types. As a co-founder of a tech company, my role is hugely varied. I wear a lot of different hats. I start every day with a call with our developers and my co-founder, Louella. We talk about what … Read More


Bloc

As the CEO and founder of a marketing app operating in the tech/hospitality industry my days are certainly busy. We deal with over 100k users and 500 advertisers so every day is different. My typical day involves a lot of people management and analytical analysis. In essence, our app runs itself but we have to … Read More


Airbase

My role as CEO has changed dramatically since I first started the company. In the early days of my spend management company, Airbase, I was wearing many different hats and had a number of varied responsibilities. I was meeting with potential customers to understand the problems in the market and how we could solve them, … Read More


Pros

Suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.

Suitable for people who want recognition and wants career advancement and a prestigious career.

Demand for this career is growing.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

One of the highest-paid careers in the world.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

It is very hard to get into this career. Extensive skills, knowledge, and experience are required for this career.

Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).

How much do they make

Average salary

$197840 per year

Average hourly wage

$95 per hour

Entry-level Chief Executives with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $62,780 to $114,530 per year or $30 to $55 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $208,000+ $100+
Senior (Top 25%) $208,000+ $100+
Median $185,950 $89
Junior (Bottom 25%) $114,530 $55
No experience (Bottom 10%) $62,780 $30

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Chief Executives based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing $274380 $131.91
Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation $267510 $128.61
Natural Gas Distribution $264920 $127.36
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing $263780 $126.82
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities $258010 $124.04
Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing $256540 $123.34
Sound Recording Industries $256450 $123.29
Other Pipeline Transportation $256220 $123.18
Inland Water Transportation $253660 $121.95
Cable and Other Subscription Programming $253210 $121.73

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Chief Executives work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Chief Executives including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Management of Companies and Enterprises 16290 $248610 $119.52
Local Government 15010 $124510 $59.86
Elementary and Secondary Schools 9540 $156150 $75.07
State Government 9000 $121340 $58.34
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 8920 $235380 $113.16
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 8460 $203630 $97.90
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 5260 $213550 $102.67
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities 4860 $214940 $103.34
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 3990 $208280 $100.13
Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations 3860 $204650 $98.39

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
6%

40 hours
0%

More than 40 hours
94%

Working schedule

75%

20%

5%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
0%

Every day
100%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
0%

Every day
100%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
2%

Every day
98%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
6%

Once a year
12%

Once a month
23%

Once a week
53%

Every day
6%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
3%

Slightly competitive
0%

Moderately competitive
27%

Highly competitive
16%

Extremely competitive
54%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
1%

Once a year or more
1%

Once a month or more
1%

Once a week or more
1%

Every day
96%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
45%

Once a year or more
15%

Once a month or more
13%

Once a week or more
22%

Every day
5%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
47%

Once a year or more
14%

Once a month or more
13%

Once a week or more
23%

Every day
3%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
64%

Once a year or more
19%

Once a month or more
9%

Once a week or more
6%

Every day
3%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Very Hard
You will need an extensive amount of skill, knowledge, and experience. Careers in this difficulty category usually require graduate school and more than five years of experience. These careers usually involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Similar careers include Pharmacists, Lawyers, Astronomers, Neurologists, and Veterinarians.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
0%

High School Diploma or equivalent
0%

Post-Secondary Certificate
0%

Some College Courses
6%

Associate’s Degree or similar
4%

Bachelor’s Degree
22%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
14%

Master’s Degree
26%

Post-Master’s Certificate
19%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
9%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

International Business/Trade/Commerce

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.

Management Science

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.

Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies

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


Social Entrepreneurship

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.

Finance

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.

Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management

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.


Business/Commerce

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.

Business Administration and Management

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.

Public Administration

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.


Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
0%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
0%

6 months to 1 year
0%

1 to 2 years
6%

2 to 4 years
13%

4 to 6 years
9%

6 to 8 years
28%

8 to 10 years
13%

Over 10 years
32%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
37%

1 month
10%

1 to 3 months
13%

3 to 6 months
3%

6 months to 1 year
14%

1 to 2 years
12%

2 to 4 years
8%

4 to 10 years
4%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Leader

People with this personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.

The Builder
19%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
29%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
38%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
52%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
100%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
76%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
90%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
90%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
100%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
71%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
76%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
100%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


Don’t know which career to pursue?

Take the career quiz to find careers that match your personality type.

Take The Career Quiz

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.