CEO Background Statistics By Degree Level, Industry, Tenure and Education
Saisuman Revankar
Updated · Feb 26, 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction
- Editor’s Choice
- Facts About CEO
- By Wage Gap By Race
- By Wage Gap by Degree Level
- By Academic Background
- By Industry
- By Tenure
- By Average CEO Age by Gender and Race
- By Education
- By Women CEO
- By CEOs Leaving The Position By Industry
- By Demographics
- Factors Affecting How The CEOs Are Leading The Organization
- By Business Portfolio Transformation
- Best CEOs in the World 2024
- Conclusion
Introduction
CEO Background Statistics: The CEO or Chief Executive Officer is the pillar of the company. CEO leads the company in terms of revenue growth, operational efficiency, strategic vision, and overall business. A CEO must possess qualities like leadership, vision, communication skills, optimism, decision-making ability, intelligence, and much more that drive the company and its employees toward a better future.
However, becoming a CEO is not easy in today’s competitive world. Money might lure people into these but it is difficult to manage all kinds of departments in the company in a progressive way. Let’s understand CEO background statistics to learn the basics.
Editor’s Choice
- Around 20% of Chief Executive officers around the world are considered to have psychopathic personalities.
- According to a report by Statista, in 2023, the share of companies in the USA with racially and ethnically diverse CEOs saw nearly half of the CEOs with Asian or Indian backgrounds contributing 49%.
- In the USA, five times more CEOs graduated from Ivy League Schools than individuals who graduated from all other universities.
- The rate of women CEOs leaving their positions increased to 24% in 2023, which was 19.5% in 2022.
- The share of new women CEOs was higher, contributing 28% compared to 2022, which represented 26%.
- The healthcare and product sector industry was the second-highest industry with the highest turnover rates, resulting in 189 individuals leaving the organization.
- On average, a CEO is 58 years old.
- Two-thirds of CEOs believe that customers will become the most significant influencers of the company in the coming 5 years.
- 32% of top CEOs have received abroad degrees.
- In December 2023, government organizations had 61 CEO exits, out of which 46 were of non-profit organizations.
Facts About CEO
- 92% of CEOs prioritize investing in data analytics and decision science.
- 93% of CEOs integrate artificial intelligence into core business practices.
- 92% of CEOs focus on improving workplace culture.
- 91% of CEOs are highly adaptable.
- 90% of CEOs emphasize the importance of employee mental health and productivity.
- 90% of CEOs are often lifelong learners.
- 89% of CEOs view climate change as a defining factor in shaping the future of their industries.
- 88% of CEOs are avid readers.
- 88% of CEOs prioritize long-term digital transformation over short-term gains.
- 87% of CEOs believe that remote work is the future, reshaping workplace dynamics.
- 85% of CEOs concentrate on building resilient supply chains.
- 84% of CEOs actively engage in personal branding on social media.
- 83% of CEOs prioritize investing in mental well-being resources.
- 80% of CEOs focus on digital transformation.
- 79% of CEOs anticipate skills shortages.
- 78% of CEOs consider Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors key to business success.
- 76% of CEOs prioritize their cybersecurity strategies amid rising digital threats.
- 76% of CEOs are preparing for the integration of AI.
- 73% of CEOs recognize the importance of mental agility.
- 70% of CEOs emphasize corporate social responsibility (CSR).
- 68% of CEOs often maintain a global perspective.
- 68% of CEOs express concerns about cybersecurity.
- 65% of CEOs consider sustainability central to their competitiveness.
- 56% of CEOs have a passion for innovation.
- 55% of CEOs are engaging more with regulators and policymakers.
- CEOs work an average of 62.5 hours per week.
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By Wage Gap By Race
(Reference: zippia.com)
- The Wage gap by race shows that people with a white background are likely to receive higher salary amounts, contributing an average of USD 185,754 per annum.
- The wage gap for CEOs in other ethnicities is represented as follows black or African American (USD 177,681), Asian (USD 184,012), and Hispanic or Latino (USD 178,339), and not specified (USD 175,653).
By Wage Gap by Degree Level
(Reference: zippia.com)
- CEOs with master’s degrees are likely to receive the highest salary as compared to other educational qualifications, contributing USD 227,205 a year.
- Doctorate or bachelor’s level education can help in generating USD 227,163 and USD 204,443 per annum income, respectively.
- On the other hand, an associate degree or some college-level education is likely to contribute USD 149,580 in terms of average CEO salary.
By Academic Background
(Source: Study.eu)
- Globally, 98% of CEOs hold at least a Bachelor’s degree.
- In China, 28% of top CEOs hold a doctorate degree, the highest proportion worldwide.
- In Europe, 74% of top managers possess a Master’s degree.
- In North America, 52% of CEOs have earned at least a Master’s degree.
- In Australia, 59% of CEOs have a Master’s degree or higher, and 9% do not have any university degree. Additionally, Australian CEOs tend to be among the youngest.
(Source: Study.eu)
By Industry
(Reference: zippia.com)
- The private sector contributes the majority of the CEO positions, 67%, followed by the public sector, 24%.
- The education and government sectors share the number of positions equally, 5%.
By Tenure
(Reference: zippia.com)
- The majority of the CEOs stay with the same company for 1 to 2 years resulting in 23%.
- On the other hand, 8% are likely to resign within a year.
By Average CEO Age by Gender and Race
(Reference: zippia.com)
- CEO Background Statistics by Demographics shows the average age of Chief Executive Officers by gender and race in the above chart.
- Overall, women are comparatively younger in CEO positions than men who are aged more than 50, while most women are less than 50 years of age in every ethnic background.
By Education
- On average, 98% of CEOs around the world have a bachelor’s degree.
- 32% of top CEOs have received abroad degrees.
- CEO Background Statistics show that 29% of CEOs have been a part of varsity-level sports in the college.
- Furthermore, 54% of CEOs of Fortune 100 companies have graduated with engineering degrees.
- According to CEO Background Statistics, 70% of companies listed in the Fortune 500 have a CEO with an MBA background.
- In the USA, five times more CEOs graduated from Ivy League Schools than individuals who graduated from all other universities.
- 56% of CEOs have gained a degree in economics, accounting, or business.
By Women CEO
- CEO Background Statistics 2023 state that the share of new women CEOs was 28%, compared to 26% in 2022.
- On the other hand, the rate of women CEOs leaving their positions increased to 24% in 2023, up from 19.5% in 2022.
- Women capture 8% of CEO positions in the Fortune 100 companies.
By CEOs Leaving The Position By Industry
- In December 2023, government organizations had 61 CEO exits, out of which 46 were of non-profit organizations.
- In 2023, non-profit organizations represented 486 CEOs, of whom 361 left the position. This shows a 71% increase in turnover rate compared to 2022, which was just 271.
- The healthcare and product sector was the second-highest industry with the highest turnover rates, resulting in 189 individuals leaving the organization.
- Furthermore, in 2023, hospitals recorded a 42% increase in CEO changes, contributing 146, compared to 103 in 2022.
By Demographics
(Reference: zippia.com)
- As of 2023, according to the CEO Background Statistics, the CEO officer gender ratio shows that the number of male CEOs is higher than that of female CEOs, resulting in 31.5%.
Factors Affecting How The CEOs Are Leading The Organization
(Reference: mckinsey.com)
- According to a report by McKinsey, the rise of disruptive digital technologies, the economic situation, and geopolitics are the most crucial factors impacting CEOs’ leadership of their organizations as of 2023.
- On the other hand, companies with highly expected social purpose, the racial gap in the economy, and the emergence of blockchain and Web3 have been the least voted by the respondents.
By Business Portfolio Transformation
(Reference: ey.com)
- According to a report by EY on global CEO Outlook 2023, 32% of CEOs are trying to improve the performance and profitability of the business to improve their business portfolio.
- Furthermore, raising new capital from new or existing shareholders (27%) or debit issuance or bank loans (25%) as well as selling non-core assets or spinning off assets (16%) are other primary ways to finance portfolio transformations.
Best CEOs in the World 2024
- Brian Moynihan – Chairman and CEO, Bank of America, USA
- Jamie Dimon- Chairman and CEO, JPMorgan Chase and Co, USA
- Amin H. Nasser- President and CEO, Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco), Saudi Arabia
- Darren W Woods – Chairman and CEO, Exxon Mobil, USA
- Satya Nadella – Chairman and CEO, Microsoft, USA
- Tim Cook – CEO, Apple, USA
- Wael Sawan- CEO, Shell, UK
- Akio Toyoda – Chairman and Representative Director, Toyota Motor, Japan
- Liao Lin, President and executive director, Industrial and Commercial bank of China Limited, China
- Kyung Kye Hyun, President and CEO, Samsung Electronics, South Korea
Conclusion
In conclusion, CEO background statistics show that these individuals shape the future of the company. They play a crucial role in handling the strategic planning in every department. Even though the majority of the CEOs are well qualified, having only bookish knowledge won’t lead one to becoming a CEO. Personality and thinking ability matters as well.
Sources
Saisuman Revankar
Saisuman is a talented content writer with a keen interest in mobile tech, new gadgets, law, and science. She writes articles for websites and newsletters, conducting thorough research for medical professionals. Fluent in five languages, her love for reading and languages led her to a writing career. With a Master’s in Business Administration focusing on Human Resources, Saisuman has worked in HR and with a French international company. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and singing classical songs. At Coolest Gadgets, Saisuman reviews gadgets and analyzes their statistics, making complex information easy for readers to understand.
