CEO job description: duties, skills and qualifications.

Core duties

16

O*NET task statements

Preparation

Job Zone 5 of 5

extensive preparation

Typical entry education

Bachelor's degree

BLS 2025–35

Median pay

$213,990

BLS May 2025

Data Government data groups this job as Chief Executives (O*NET-SOC 11-1011.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.

1. Direct or coordinate an organization's financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency. importance 4.5 of 5
2. Confer with board members, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems. importance 4.3 of 5
3. Prepare budgets for approval, including those for funding or implementation of programs. importance 4.3 of 5
4. 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. importance 4.2 of 5
5. Prepare or present reports concerning activities, expenses, budgets, government statutes or rulings, or other items affecting businesses or program services. importance 4.2 of 5
6. Implement corrective action plans to solve organizational or departmental problems. importance 4.1 of 5
7. 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. importance 4.1 of 5
8. Direct or coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products. importance 4.1 of 5
9. Appoint department heads or managers and assign or delegate responsibilities to them. importance 4.1 of 5
10. Interpret and explain policies, rules, regulations, or laws to organizations, government or corporate officials, or individuals. importance 4.1 of 5
11. Review reports submitted by staff members to recommend approval or to suggest changes. importance 4.1 of 5
12. Negotiate or approve contracts or agreements with suppliers, distributors, federal or state agencies, or other organizational entities. importance 4.1 of 5
13. Establish departmental responsibilities and coordinate functions among departments and sites. importance 4.0 of 5
14. Deliver speeches, write articles, or present information at meetings or conventions to promote services, exchange ideas, or accomplish objectives. importance 3.9 of 5
15. Serve as liaisons between organizations, shareholders, and outside organizations. importance 3.9 of 5
16. Coordinate the development or implementation of budgetary control systems, recordkeeping systems, or other administrative control processes. importance 3.8 of 5

Work activities O*NET rates most important here: Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships, Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates, Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates and Coaching and Developing Others.

Also part of the job

Supplemental tasks O*NET lists for this occupation: less central than the core duties above, and not done in every job.

• Nominate citizens to boards or commissions.
• Conduct or direct investigations or hearings to resolve complaints or violations of laws, or testify at such hearings.
• Direct or coordinate activities of businesses involved with buying or selling investment products or financial services.
• Prepare bylaws approved by elected officials, and ensure that bylaws are enforced.
• Make presentations to legislative or other government committees regarding policies, programs, or budgets.
• Review and analyze legislation, laws, or public policy and recommend changes to promote or support interests of the general population or special groups.

Knowledge areas: Administration and Management, Personnel and Human Resources, English Language, Customer and Personal Service and Economics and Accounting.

Software O*NET lists for this occupation: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Atlassian JIRA, Extensible markup language XML. These are examples O*NET records for the job, not a list of tools every employer uses or a checklist of what you must know.

• Education: BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education.
• Experience: BLS lists 5 years or more of work experience in a related occupation as typical.
• Training on the job: BLS lists no typical on-the-job training once hired.
• Preparation: O*NET places the job in Job Zone 5 of 5 (extensive preparation). Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations.
• Licenses and certifications: not listed here. A license is a legal requirement set by a state; a certification is a credential from a private or professional body. Rules vary by state and employer, and a missing entry on this page does not mean none is required: check with your state's licensing board and see how to become a CEO.

The most common answer among CEOs surveyed by O*NET is a master's degree (46%).

Job title: CEO
[Company] · [City, State] · [Full-time or part-time] · [Pay range, where your state requires one]

About the role
[Company] is hiring a CEO to 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.
[One sentence on your team and why this role matters.]

What you will do
- 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.
- Direct or coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products.

What we are looking for
- [Education: BLS lists a bachelor's degree as typical for this occupation; set the level this role truly needs]
- [Experience: BLS lists 5 years or more in a related occupation as typical; adjust to this role]
- Strength in judgment and decision making, complex problem solving and critical thinking
- Working knowledge of Administration and Management and Personnel and Human Resources
- [Software your team uses, e.g. Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Office software]
- [Any license or certification your state or company requires]

[Schedule, benefits and how to apply]

Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.

Not a real job posting. This template is TryHired's illustration built from government occupational data. It is not an opening at any employer, and no employer wrote it.

The median annual wage was $213,990 in May 2025. The median hourly wage was $102.88. BLS estimates about 204,350 jobs in this occupation in the U.S.

BLS projects employment of CEOs to grow 3.2% from 2025 to 2035, with about 19,100 openings a year over that period, including openings to replace workers who leave.

See the full CEO salary breakdown by percentile, state and metro.

• Read a real CEO posting next to the core duties above. Duties it repeats, such as “Direct or coordinate an organization's financial or budget activities…”, tell you what that employer weighs most; anything it adds is specific to that team.
• Tailor your resume to the posting, not to this page: describe only CEO work you have actually done, with your own results.
• Prepare a story for each of the top-rated skills (judgment and decision making and complex problem solving).