What a CEO actually decides

Sources

• Occupational Outlook Handbook: Top Executives (chief executives' median pay, May 2025, and jobs, 2025) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

Every number

• $213,990/yearbls.gov ·2025 · Median yearly wage of chief executives in the US, May 2025: half earned more, half less. Counts chief executives of organizations of every kind and size.
• 291,600 jobsbls.gov ·2025 · Chief executive jobs in the US, 2025.
• 4,000 workersexample (example number: Our example: a regional grocery chain's workers.) · Our example: a regional grocery chain's workers.
• 60 storesexample (example number: Our example: the grocery chain's stores.) · Our example: the grocery chain's stores.
• 14 hoursexample (example number: Our example CEO's week, not an average: time with people outside and at the top: customers, investors, the top team.) · Our example CEO's week, not an average: time with people outside and at the top: customers, investors, the top team.
• 13 hoursexample (example number: Our example CEO's week, not an average: reviewing departments and stores: results meetings with each leader.) · Our example CEO's week, not an average: reviewing departments and stores: results meetings with each leader.
• 9 hoursexample (example number: Our example CEO's week, not an average: strategy: where the company goes next.) · Our example CEO's week, not an average: strategy: where the company goes next.
• 8 hoursexample (example number: Our example CEO's week, not an average: how people work together: culture, and hiring leaders.) · Our example CEO's week, not an average: how people work together: culture, and hiring leaders.
• 3 hoursexample (example number: Our example CEO's week, not an average: the board: a meeting and getting ready for it.) · Our example CEO's week, not an average: the board: a meeting and getting ready for it.
• 3 hoursexample (example number: Our example CEO's week, not an average: a crisis: a supplier's food recall.) · Our example CEO's week, not an average: a crisis: a supplier's food recall.
• 50 hoursexample (example number: Our example CEO's week, not an average: the whole week, worked out: the six rows added up.) · Our example CEO's week, not an average: the whole week, worked out: the six rows added up.
• 18%example (example number: Our example, worked out: 9 hours of strategy ÷ 50 hours in the week.) · Our example, worked out: 9 hours of strategy ÷ 50 hours in the week.
• $5Mexample (example number: Our example: the grocery chain's written limit: above this, a decision goes to the board.) · Our example: the grocery chain's written limit: above this, a decision goes to the board.
• $20Mexample (example number: Our example: a new warehouse.) · Our example: a new warehouse.
• $3Mexample (example number: Our example: the first store in a new state, not in any department's budget.) · Our example: the first store in a new state, not in any department's budget.