Make your tailored home page for Chief medical officers

The average age of a CMO is 52, and the average tenure of a CMO is 4.1 years, the shortest of all the C-suite titles examined.

Considering that a CMO is responsible for a blend of clinical and administrative duties, the role is demanding yet highly rewarding.

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) is the executive leader responsible for clinical strategy, medical policy, medical management, and other clinical operations to continuously improve the health services provided by health plans contracted by Covered California and promote improvement in Californiaʼs delivery system.

Considering that a CMO is one of the highest-level roles in health care, prospective health care leaders may want to know what a chief medical officer does. One of the most important things to know about the CMO position is that itʼs one of health careʼs rare dual roles.

How long does it take to become a CMO? To become a chief medical officer, you need to complete four years of an undergraduate degree, followed by two years in a medical degree program, a residency period, and an additional 10 or more years in a physician role.

As a senior-level executive, the CMO plays a vital role in ensuring the efficient working of these medical centers and facilities. The medical director is a prominent healthcare executive who carries essential responsibility within an institutional healthcare system.

The average tenure of a CMO is the lowest of all C-suite titles, at an average of 3.5 years, down from the 2016 analysis, where the average tenure was 4.1 years.

As of May 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Chief Medical Officer in the United States is $543,214. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $494,318 to $580,809, with most professionals earning between $449,801 and $615,037.

Chief Medical Officers display integrity in that they are loyal, they tell the truth, they are principled but not inflexible, they have strong ethics and professional standards, they are trustworthy, and they have responsibility to patients and communities.

The average age of a CMO is 52, and the average tenure of a CMO is 4.1 years, the shortest of all the C-suite titles examined. CMOs in the life sciences and professional services sectors have the oldest average age (54); CMOs in the consumer sector have the youngest average age (50).