Career Explorer Management
Changing shape
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.
In the middle of the pack: more resilient than 43% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it very high), and US jobs are projected to change by +3.2% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on creative vision and emotional intelligence.
AI can do many of the tasks, and hiring is expected to grow slower than average or to shrink. The job is likely to change, so build the human parts of it.
- Median pay (2025)
- $213,990
- Job growth to 2035
- +3.2%
- Openings a year
- 19,100
- People doing it (2025)
- 292,000
- Usual route in
- Bachelor's degree
Where people already use AI for this work
- Implement procedures or processes
- Communicate with others about operational plans or activities
- Provide information or assistance to the public
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures
- Manage budgets or finances
- Develop sustainable organizational or business policies or practices
What the work looks like
- 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.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Social and community service managersGrows with AI, Index 63, +7.2%
- Human resources managersGrows with AI, Index 68, +5.5%
- General and operations managersGrows with AI, Index 60, +5.0%
- Sales managersGrows with AI, Index 50, +4.5%
Also known as: CEO (Chief Executive Officer), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), President, Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), Sustainability Director, Sustainability Manager, Sustainable Design Director.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.