What Are the Highest Paying Business Jobs?

The highest-paying business jobs are those at the top of the corporate pyramid. If you want a six-figure job with a business degree, your best chance is to aim for a position in the C-suite (the C stands for “Chief”). Getting a job as a vice president or chief officer means gaining the education and work experience to qualify you for the top position in your field. Continue reading to discover what it takes to become a vice president or chief officer and the average salary for common executive-level positions in the business industry.

8 highest-paying business jobs

The highest-paying jobs in business are at the top of the organizational chart. No standard way to arrange an executive suite exists, so titles and responsibilities may vary between corporations. Some of the highest-paying executive-level positions include:

• Chief executive officer 

• Chief sales officer 

• Vice president of customer service

• Chief strategy officer 

• Vice president of human resources

• Vice president of finance

• Vice president of corporate communications

• Vice president of sales and marketing

Not every company will list these positions on its organizational chart, but they represent a selection of some of the highest-paying business jobs in the United States on average.

1. Chief executive officer (CEO)

Average salary: $171,196 [1]

Job outlook: 6 percent annual growth [2]

Requirements: At least a bachelor’s degree, but an MBA or doctorate may be required

Although every company organizes its executive-level positions differently, a chief executive officer (CEO) is usually the top position in the hierarchy. In many cases, a CEO answers to a board of directors. The main responsibility of a CEO is to manage a company's overall operations. Depending on the company's size, that could mean overseeing other leadership positions, managing departments, acting as a media representative, meeting with investors, and setting the standard for company culture and practices.

How to become a chief executive officer

The requirements for reaching the top of a corporation or business will vary depending on factors like the size of the company, the industry it's in, and the position's competitiveness. In general, a CEO must have at least a bachelor’s degree, although many will have a master of business administration (MBA) or doctorate degree in business.

Becoming a CEO typically means having five or more years of experience in business. Executive-level leadership certifications or specializations can also help you advance to CEO.

2. Chief sales officer

Average salary: $204,090 [3]

Job outlook: 6 percent annual growth [2]

Requirements: Strong background in sales and experience managing a team, although sometimes formal degrees will be required

A chief sales officer leads the sales department, which might include managing one or more teams of people, training, managing customer relations, and generally finding ways to meet and exceed sales targets. A chief sales officer might answer to the CEO or a board of directors. Chief sales directors are usually, but not always, involved directly in sales but rather strategize and analyze sales efforts to maximize the company’s revenue potential.

How to become a chief sales officer

Most chief sales officers have at least a bachelor’s degree. Although some have a master’s degree, not all companies require their chief sales officer to have a degree, provided they have enough relevant experience. To get a job as a chief sales officer, you’ll need a strong background in sales and experience managing a team.

3. Vice president of customer service

Average salary: $150,860 [4]

Job Outlook: 6 percent annual growth [2]

Requirements: Bachelor's degree, although an MBA or doctorate is commonly required

The vice president (VP) of customer service in a corporation or business oversees all customer service operations, from managing customer experience expectations to hiring and training customer service staff. The VP of customer service may also analyze customer feedback and suggest business processes to better serve customers.

How to become vice president of customer service

Most VPs of customer service have at least a bachelor's degree, although some companies will prefer to hire a candidate with an MBA or doctorate. To get started in this specialization, you’ll need experience working in customer service, such as a background in hospitality management. You may need ten or more years of experience working with customers to qualify for this executive-level position.

4. Chief strategy officer

Average salary: $193,734 [5]

Job Outlook: 6 percent annual growth [2]

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree, although sometimes a master’s or doctorate is required

A chief strategy officer develops company strategies and helps each department understand its role. In fast-paced business markets, chief strategy officers help corporations remain agile and flexible to meet the needs of their customers and shareholders. They identify benchmarks and goals for long-term growth and interpret that into short-term, measurable tasks. Depending on the team, a chief strategy officer's involvement can range from hands-on to more focused on team leadership.

How to become chief strategy officer

In general, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree and, in most cases, a master’s degree or higher to become a chief strategy officer. You will likely need management consulting or marketing experience. On average, chief strategy officers will need at least three years of experience in a prior role managing teams.

5. Vice president of human resources

Average salary: $207,320 [6]

Job outlook: 6 percent annual growth [2]

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree, while in some cases a master’s or doctorate may be required

The vice president of human resources leads the human resources department and is a link between that department and the leadership positions in all departments of the company or organization. The VP of human resources is in charge of maintaining an environment where employees can do their work safely and appropriately.

How to become vice president of human resources

Getting into this VP position means gaining experience in human resources and a degree, such as a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration or Human Resource Management. In many cases, you’ll need a master's or doctorate to become the department's vice president.

6. Vice president of finance

Average salary: $172,758 [7]

Job Outlook: 6 percent annual growth [2]

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree at minimum; sometimes requires a more advanced degree or certified public accountant (CPA) certification

The vice president of finance oversees the money, specifically the big picture of the company's finances, such as strategy, long-term goals, budget, and data analysis. A vice president of finance might report to a CEO, a board of directors, or investors.

How to become vice president of finance

To become the vice president of finance, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree in finance or a related field. You may be required to hold a more advanced degree or CPA certification. Although there is more than one path to getting a job as a vice president of finance, you will most likely need at least five years of experience in a managerial finance role.

7. Vice president of corporate communications

Average salary: $163,881 [8]

Job Outlook: 6 percent annual growth [2]

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree; commonly requires a master’s degree

The vice president of corporate communications is in charge of public relations and media strategy. They oversee or directly execute the line of communication between the corporation and the rest of the world. Executives in this position may analyze market data and communications campaigns to inform company messaging in the future.

How to become vice president of corporate communications

Most vice presidents of corporate communications have a bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, or a related field. In some cases, a master’s degree will be required. While the exact qualifications will vary depending on the company, expect to need about eight to ten years of corporate communications experience before getting the VP job.

8. Vice president of sales and marketing

Average salary: $139,512 [9]

Job Outlook: 6 percent annual growth [2]

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree; sometimes, it could require a more advanced degree

The vice president of sales and marketing oversees the marketing department and manages sales. This position is similar to other positions on our list of the highest-paying jobs in business, like chief sales officer. In some cases, the chief sales officer answers to the vice president of sales and marketing, but not always. An executive in this role will oversee marketing efforts, including managing teams and developing strategy.

How to become vice president of sales and marketing

To get a job as the VP of sales and marketing, you’ll most likely need a bachelor’s degree at minimum but may be required to have a more advanced degree. A VP of sales and marketing requires experience in sales and managing a team.

Next steps

The first step to a career in business is to earn a bachelor's degree, like a Bachelor of Science in General Business, from the University of North Texas. If you’re looking for certifications or an advanced degree to help you stand out from the candidate pool, consider a Salesforce Sales Development Representative Professional Certificate or a Master of Business Administration (iMBA) from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.