Every business is different- that much is clear to any employee. But there are some surprising traits that many CEOs share.
Some claim there’s a key distinction between bosses and leaders. Yet regardless of a CEO’s leadership style, this infographic shows that there are some statistical similarities between most heads of major companies.
Unsurprisingly, CEO salaries grow with the number of years’ experience they have- starting with an un-shabby average $120,000 for those with less than 5 years on the job, to $229,000 for those with over twenty years clocked in. On top of that, CEOs can also earn hefty bonuses, profit shares, and commissions, depending on their industry.
The graphic then turns to Fortune 500 CEOs, that most rarefied class of corporate leaders. Depressingly, only 4.8% (no, that’s not a typo) of Fortune 500 CEOs are women, demonstrating the glass ceiling in full force- although, interestingly, the number grows to 8% if you look at Fortune 100 CEOs. 42.6% of the group have an MBA and 2/3 have a background in the same industry as the company they head. Interestingly, geographic distribution across the United States is uneven as well: 40% of Fortune 500 CEOs come from either California, Illinois, Texas, or New York.
While it’s hard to determine causation based on the correlations above, it’s interesting to see what backgrounds the CEOs of major companies share, particularly when it comes to choosing a major or a career path.