Chief Executive Officer Jobs in California

Chief Executive Officer jobs in California represent one of the most active and competitive executive markets in the country, concentrated in technology, entertainment, healthcare, and finance across the state's leading metros. San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego account for the largest share of openings, where anchor employers such as Apple, Kaiser Permanente, and Wells Fargo maintain deep leadership pipelines. The most consistent demand is for chief executive officers with experience in technology-driven growth, healthcare systems management, and venture-backed consumer companies. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles143+
Top employerFutureSight Ventures
Top cityLos Angeles, CA
Cities hiring53
Work type45% Remote
Top industryEducation

Showing 5 of 143+ Chief Executive Officer jobs

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Experienced Dental Treatment Coordinator with CEO Energy!
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Added 1d ago
Experienced Dental Treatment Coordinator with CEO Energy!
Smilestyle Dental Studio
San Diego, California
Clinical Support
Healthcare Administration
Public Health
$28 - $33/hr
On-Site

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Ceribell, Inc
Chief of Staff, CEO
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Ceribell, Inc
Added 1d ago
Chief of Staff, CEO
Ceribell, Inc
Santa Cruz, California
Business Development
Corporate Development & M&A
Sales
$275k - $293k/yr
Master's degree
51-200

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LTHRWRKS
Personal Assistant to CEO
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LTHRWRKS
Added 1d ago
Personal Assistant to CEO
LTHRWRKS
Los Angeles, California
Business Operations
Program Management
Project Management
$20 - $22/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in business

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Co-Founder & CEO — Supply Chain Tech | AI Returns Recovery
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Added 1d ago
Co-Founder & CEO — Supply Chain Tech | AI Returns Recovery
FutureSight Ventures
Los Angeles, California
Business Strategy
Product Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
Remote (US)

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Co-Founder & CEO — Supply Chain Tech | AI Returns Recovery
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F
Added 1d ago
Co-Founder & CEO — Supply Chain Tech | AI Returns Recovery
FutureSight Ventures
San Francisco, California
Business Strategy
Product Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
Remote (US)

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See All 143+ Chief Executive Officer Jobs in California

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Chief Executive Officer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Los Angeles
32 jobs
Irvine
7 jobs
San Jose
7 jobs
San Diego
6 jobs
Menlo Park
4 jobs
Ukiah
2 jobs
Concord
2 jobs
Oakland
2 jobs

Chief Executive Officer Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • F
    FutureSight Ventures35
  • Sutter Health
    Sutter Health4
  • Pallet
    Pallet2
  • CEO Life
    CEO Life2
  • Alpha Hire
    Alpha Hire2

Top Industries Hiring

  • Education
  • Technology & Software
  • Healthcare & Medical Services
  • Medical Devices
  • Electronics & Hardware

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in chief executive officer jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's or advanced degree in business administration, finance, or a related field required
  • Fifteen or more years of progressive leadership experience including senior executive roles
  • Demonstrated history of P&L ownership and full organizational accountability at scale
  • Experience leading teams across California's regulatory and multi-stakeholder business environment
  • Strong board-level communication skills and experience reporting to or serving on boards of directors
  • Proficiency with enterprise financial management systems and California compliance requirements

Chief Executive Officer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a chief executive officer in California?

Becoming a chief executive officer in California typically requires an advanced degree such as an MBA and a sustained record of senior leadership across functional areas like finance, operations, and strategy. California has no state-issued license specific to the chief executive officer role, but heavily regulated industries such as healthcare, banking, and insurance require the CEO to ensure organizational compliance with California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation or CDPH standards. Most California CEOs advance through vice president and C-suite roles within their industry before appointment.

How much do chief executive officers make in California?

Chief executive officers in California earn a median of about $218,600 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $85,790 for the lowest 10% to over $486,830 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire chief executive officers in California?

California chief executive officer roles are posted by FutureSight Ventures, Sutter Health, and Pallet and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. California's concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters, health systems, and venture-backed technology companies means the pipeline of CEO openings is unusually broad compared to most other states.

Which California cities have the most chief executive officer jobs?

Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Irvine have the most chief executive officer openings in California. San Francisco's dominance reflects the concentration of technology and fintech headquarters there, Los Angeles draws significant demand from entertainment, media, and healthcare systems, and San Diego's life sciences and defense sectors sustain a consistent need for executive leadership across both established corporations and high-growth companies.

Are there remote chief executive officer jobs in California?

Yes, but they're rare. About 65% of chief executive officer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, which is lower than most desk-based professional roles because the position inherently requires in-person board presence, investor meetings, and organizational leadership. The portions of the role most compatible with remote work are strategy planning, investor relations, and external communications.

How can I get hired as a chief executive officer in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic path for candidates without prior CEO experience is a transition from a senior vice president or chief operating officer role within the same California organization, where internal succession planning is common at large employers such as Kaiser Permanente, Salesforce, and major California-based health systems. Completing an executive MBA at a UC campus or Stanford Graduate School of Business strengthens candidacy meaningfully. Smaller California companies, including venture-backed startups in the Bay Area and San Diego biotech corridor, frequently appoint first-time CEOs from founding or senior director roles.

Where can I find and apply to chief executive officer jobs in California?

You can find and apply to chief executive officer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and metro areas. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly from the listings.

See All 143+ Chief Executive Officer Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Chief Executive Officer Jobs