How long does it take to become an executive director?

It takes 8 to 12 years in your career field to become executive director, including education. It can easily take as long as 24 years to rise to this level, and the role takes more than just time to achieve. To be an executive director, one must work hard and stand out from the crowd.

Is director higher than CEO?

No, director is not higher than CEO. There is a Board of Directors, and the CEO is the head of that board, with more duties and responsibilities. "Director" is a general title that can mean different things, generally someone who works at the top management tier.

What is the difference between director and executive director?

The differences between director and executive director are related to responsibilities and involvement with the organization. A director does not need to be an employee of the firm. It could be an investor or advisor who influences decisions by sitting on the board of directors.

What is the difference between executive director and CEO?

The difference between an executive director and CEO is leadership titles used to describe the same role in different organizations. For example, it is more common to see Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in corporations, whereas in non-profits, It is the highest-ranking leadership position in both organizations, with the same goal of guiding the company's vision.

What is the role of an executive director?

The role of an executive director is to build, maintain and motivate an organization through vision, fundraising, decision making, and planning. The executive director is appointed by the board of directors to manage the day-to-day operations of a non-profit organization.

How To Become An Executive Director: What It Is and Career Path

What is an executive director and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

An executive director manages the operations and strategy of an organization. They help the organization achieve its goals while managing staff, finances, and resources. Executive directors work with the board of directors on strategic plans and oversee fundraising efforts. They also serve as the face of the organization and work to maintain its reputation. The executive director ensures the success and sustainability of a nonprofit, business, or other organization.

ScoreExecutive DirectorUS Average

Salary

8.3

Avg. Salary $127,956

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

3.6

Growth Rate -8%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.40%

Asian 5.00%

Black or African American 7.62%

Hispanic or Latino 11.22%

Unknown 4.80%

White 70.97%

Gender

female 52.98%

male 47.02%

Age - 51

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 51

Stress Level

3.6

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

5.7

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

7.9

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an Executive Director?

Pros

High salary and benefits
Opportunities for personal and professional growth
Chance to work with a talented team of professionals
Exposure to diverse perspectives and experiences
Recognition and respect within the industry

Cons

Difficult decisions that affect staff, stakeholders, and the organization as a whole
Accountability for all aspects of the organization's performance
Exposure to criticism and scrutiny from internal and external stakeholders
Risk of burnout or career stagnation without proper support and development opportunities
Heavy responsibility for financial management and fundraising efforts.

Key steps to become an executive director

Explore executive director education requirements

Most common executive director degrees

Bachelor's

63.1 %

Master's

21.6 %

Associate

8.2 %

Start to develop specific executive director skills

Skills	Percentages
Oversight	9.79%
Patients	9.35%
Customer Service	4.69%
Financial Management	4.53%
Business Development	4.06%

Complete relevant executive director training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New executive directors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an executive director based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real executive director resumes.

Research executive director duties and responsibilities

Manage 10 department heads who supervise a staff of 350 FTE's.
Develop and manage sales teams to assure the highest ROI on the client's investment.
Create and manage a call center for lead programs to support the prospecting activity needs of the FSR.
Freelance blogging to increase website views and ultimately to turn organic content into leads and ROI for small businesses.

Get executive director experience

Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become an executive director. The most common roles before becoming an executive director include director, administrator team lead and program director.

Prepare your executive director resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your executive director resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an executive director resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Executive Director Resume templates

Build a professional Executive Director resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Executive Director resume.

Apply for executive director jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an executive director job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Executive Director Job

Domenica Torres

Executive Director

1. My journey to Becoming an Executive Director:
2. Early Career and Education: My journey began with a solid educational foundation in business
management, which I pursued with great enthusiasm. Early on, I took on various roles that
provided me with a broad understanding of business operations and leadership.

3. 2. Gaining Experience: I worked in several managerial positions where I honed my skills in
strategic planning, team leadership, and operational efficiency. These roles were crucial in
helping me understand the intricacies of running a business and leading diverse team.

4. Leadership Development: I actively sought opportunities to develop my leadership capabilities.
This included participating in leadership workshops, seeking mentorship from seasoned
executives, and consistently challenging myself to take on more responsibility.

5. 4. Building a Vision: As I progressed in my career, I learned the importance of having a clear
vision and the ability to inspire and guide others towards that vision. This vision-centric approach
was pivotal when I transitioned into executive roles, where strategic direction and organizational
alignment are key.

6. 5. Overcoming Challenges: Throughout my career, I faced numerous challenges that tested my
resilience and adaptability. Each challenge was a learning opportunity that strengthened my
problem-solving abilities and reinforced the importance of staying focused on long-term goals.

7. 6. Achieving Balance: Balancing operational demands with strategic initiatives was essential. I
focused on building strong teams, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous
improvement, and leveraging data-driven insights to make informed decisions.

8. 7. Commitment to Continuous Learning: Staying updated with industry trends and
continuously seeking knowledge has been a cornerstone of my career. This commitment to
learning has allowed me to adapt to changing business landscapes and maintain a competitive
edge.

9. 8. Embracing Innovation: As an Executive Director, I have always encouraged innovation and
forward-thinking. Embracing new technologies and fostering an environment where creativity
thrives have been critical to driving the organization’s growth and success.

10. 9. Reflecting on Successes and Failures: Finally, reflecting on both successes and failures has
been crucial. It has helped me understand wha

How do executive directors rate their job?

4.5/5

Based On 2 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Executive Director reviews

5.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2022

Pros

It provides me an opportunity to actively employ my passion for a leadership, while taking ideas from other people, above my position and developing leaders that work in my group. I have taught many classes in Customer Service, Communications Skills, Leadership and many others, for the State of NH, Federal Government and colleges and universities, including Entrepreneurship, for SNHU.

Cons

Being restricted to working with a smaller group, than might need Leadership training and coaching.

4.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2020

Pros

Working with teams, creating and sustaining service delivery systems, variety of tasks and projects, making it happen.

Cons

Cannot have true friends at work because you are at the top, board members if they don't get your work but insist on being involved, overdemanding funders.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020

Cons

Scheduling meetings

What is an executive director and how to become one

What are the pros and cons of being an Executive Director?

Executive Director career paths

Key steps to become an executive director

Explore executive director education requirements

Most common executive director degrees

Start to develop specific executive director skills

Complete relevant executive director training and internships

Research executive director duties and responsibilities

Get executive director experience

Prepare your executive director resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Executive Director Resume templates

Apply for executive director jobs

How Did You Land Your First Executive Director Job

Average executive director salary

How do executive directors rate their job?

Executive Director reviews

Executive Director FAQs

How long does it take to become an executive director?

Is director higher than CEO?

What is the difference between director and executive director?

What is the difference between executive director and CEO?

What is the role of an executive director?

Search for executive director jobs

Executive Director jobs by state