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The differences between chief executive officers and chief operating officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes More than 10 years to become both a chief executive officer and a chief operating officer. Additionally, a chief executive officer has an average salary of $192,260, which is higher than the $136,604 average annual salary of a chief operating officer.
The top three skills for a chief executive officer include healthcare, patients and patient care. The most important skills for a chief operating officer are healthcare, customer service, and oversight.
| Chief Executive Officer | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $192,260 | $136,604 |
| Hourly rate | $92.43 | $65.67 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 149,185 | 128,993 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 52 | 52 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A chief executive officer is the overall head of the company's operations. Chief executive officers are responsible for making corporate decisions that would define the company's performance in the market. A chief executive officer must display exceptional leadership and decision-making skills to create business growth and development strategies. The chief executive officers also provide a regular business update to the board regarding the company's status. They should also be able to identify business opportunities and create long-lasting, professional relationships with business partners and other organizations.
A chief operating officer, also known as a COO, is a high-ranking official who oversees a company or organization's daily administrative and overall operations. They are typically the second in the chain of command, reporting directly to the company's chief executive officer, also known as a CEO. Among their duties include developing strategies and guidelines, reviewing reports, performing assessments, and implementing the company's policies, standards, and regulations. Additionally, they lead and empower staff to reach goals, helping solve issues and concerns when any arise.
Chief executive officers and chief operating officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chief Executive Officer | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Average salary | $192,260 | $136,604 |
| Salary range | Between $104,000 And $354,000 | Between $81,000 And $229,000 |
| Highest paying City | Urban Honolulu, HI | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Alecto Healthcare Services LLC | Baker McKenzie |
| Best paying industry | Start-up | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a chief executive officer and a chief operating officer in terms of educational background:
| Chief Executive Officer | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between chief executive officers' and chief operating officers' demographics:
| Chief Executive Officer | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Average age | 52 | 52 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.5% Female, 31.5% | Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 7.8% White, 76.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% Asian, 7.5% White, 76.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |