What is a boss and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

A boss is the owner or manager of a business enterprise or other organization. He/She or she comes up with company goals, hires people, and tells them what to do.

You can be a boss in practically any field of work. As long as you have a vision, self-discipline to make it happen, and personal charisma to get people to follow you, you are destined for success.

Qualifications vary depending on the industry you want to rule in. If you are a self-starter, no one will ask for your papers, obviously. In higher managerial positions you conquer from the bottom up, experience and your social network might prove just as important as your degree. What you make will also depend on various factors, but one thing seems to be safe to assume: as a boss, you will earn more than your subordinates.

ScoreBossUS Average
Salary
2.5

Avg. Salary $32,298

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
10.0

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.94%

Asian 6.12%

Black or African American 11.68%

Hispanic or Latino 19.86%

Unknown 5.07%

White 56.33%

Gender

female 33.44%

male 66.56%

Age - 44
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 - 44
Stress Level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
10.0

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
3.1

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Boss career paths

Key steps to become a boss

  1. Explore boss education requirements

    Most common boss degrees

    Bachelor's

    37.3 %

    High School Diploma

    26.7 %

    Associate

    18.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific boss skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    CDL50.40%
    Customer Service13.62%
    Safety Procedures7.62%
    Sales Floor4.18%
    Windows3.18%
  3. Complete relevant boss training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New bosses 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 a boss based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real boss resumes.
  4. Research boss duties and responsibilities

    • Install windows and gutters, and lead gutter crews.
    • Work with mowers, leaf blowers, weed eaters, chippers and firefighting tools to achieve fuel reduction projects.
    • Promote from housekeeping room attendant to front desk Jr.
    • Train in compass and GPS use.
  5. Prepare your boss resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your boss 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 a boss resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Boss Resume templates

    Build a professional Boss 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 Boss resume.
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  6. Apply for boss jobs

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

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

How Did You Land Your First Boss Job

Zippi

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Average boss salary

The average Boss salary in the United States is $32,298 per year or $16 per hour. Boss salaries range between $25,000 and $41,000 per year.

Average Boss Salary
$32,298 Yearly
$15.53 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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