Also called: SES Member, Agency Executive
A top career leader in a federal agency, managing large programs and thousands of employees.
Senior executives run major divisions, like the National Weather Service or a VA hospital network. They brief political appointees, manage billion-dollar budgets, and testify before Congress. Getting there takes 15-20 years of federal leadership.
SES pay band (capped by law).
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 20 years after high school. Usually a master's or professional degree and many years of federal management.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, On-the-job training. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Public Administration, Business Administration, Law (JD), Engineering.
Growing slowly.
Low risk for 10 years. AI handles reports and analysis; leading thousands of staff and answering to Congress stay human.
Classes: AP Government, AP English Language, Leadership class.
Official data: O*NET occupation 11-1011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.