How long does it take to become a Vice President?

It takes 6 years of professional experience to become a vice president. That is the time it takes to learn specific vice president skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 9 to 11 years years to become a vice president.

Can you become a VP without a degree?

Yes, you can become a VP without a degree. However, there is a low probability of becoming a vice president of a company without a degree unless you were involved in the founding of the organization.

Is a general manager higher than a VP?

No, a general manager is not higher than a VP. Although companies can structure their management hierarchy in a variety of ways, general managers have a focus on the day-to-day operations of a division of a company or stand-alone branch.

How To Become A Vice President: What It Is and Career Path

What is a vice president and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A vice president is a high-level corporate executive who supports the president or CEO in managing the organization. They may have specific areas of responsibility, such as finance, marketing, or operations. The role of a vice president varies depending on the company and industry, but generally involves strategic planning, decision-making, and overseeing daily operations. They work closely with other executives and department heads to ensure the company is meeting its goals and objectives.

ScoreVice PresidentUS Average

Salary

9.1

Avg. Salary $158,637

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

10.0

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

1.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.64%

Asian 7.49%

Black or African American 3.68%

Hispanic or Latino 7.58%

Unknown 3.88%

White 76.73%

Gender

female 34.22%

male 65.78%

Age - 52

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 - 52

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

3.0

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Vice President?

Pros

High salary and benefits
Prestige and status
Ability to shape company strategy
Access to resources and support staff
Chance to make a significant impact on the company

Cons

Long hours and high stress levels
Heavy workload and responsibilities
Difficulty balancing work and personal life
Increased scrutiny and accountability for decisions
Difficulties in managing conflicts and difficult personalities

Newest jobs for Vice President in Columbus, OH

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Key steps to become a vice president

Explore vice president education requirements

Most common vice president degrees

Bachelor's

72.0 %

Master's

14.6 %

Associate

6.8 %

Start to develop specific vice president skills

Skills	Percentages
Healthcare	10.48%
Oversight	7.40%
Project Management	6.12%
Customer Service	6.05%
Risk Management	5.59%

Research vice president duties and responsibilities

Develop and implement global SOX methodology, manage risk assessment and testing, evaluate deficiencies and lead remediation efforts.
Manage $54MM loan portfolio of problem assets with the goal to implement strategies of rehabilitation, exit and/or liquidation.
Manage day-to-day operations, marketing, record keeping, insurance billing, human resources, budgeting, and HIPAA compliance.
Manage the web design, PPC, social media marketing, SEO, traditional and digital marketing, and customer experience.

Get vice president experience

Generally, it takes more than 10 years to become a vice president. The most common roles before becoming a vice president include internship, assistant vice president team lead and director.

Prepare your vice president resume

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

Choose From 10+ Customizable Vice President Resume templates

Build a professional Vice President 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 Vice President resume.

Apply for vice president jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a vice president 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 do vice presidents rate their job?

4/5

Based On 1 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Vice President reviews

4.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2022

Pros

Independence in decision making

Cons

I am responsible for everything be it any side of the business

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020

Pros

My Experiencia and Knowledge

Cons

Antigienic people, irresponsible people, lazy employees

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2019

Pros

I love getting to cultivate a culture where employees thrive and drive the business forward.

What is a vice president and how to become one

What are the pros and cons of being a Vice President?

Newest jobs for Vice President in Columbus, OH

Vice President career paths

Key steps to become a vice president

Explore vice president education requirements

Most common vice president degrees

Start to develop specific vice president skills

Research vice president duties and responsibilities

Get vice president experience

Prepare your vice president resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Vice President Resume templates

Apply for vice president jobs

How Did You Land Your First Vice President Job

Average vice president salary

How do vice presidents rate their job?

Vice President reviews

Vice President FAQs

How long does it take to become a Vice President?

Can you become a VP without a degree?

Is a general manager higher than a VP?

Search for vice president jobs

Vice President jobs by state