What is a C-level employee?

A C-level employee refers to a high-ranking executive employee within a company or organization. The "C" is an abbreviation of "Chief" and denotes a level of power and influence within an organization. C-level employees are given the ability to make high-stake decisions and earn high salaries compared to other employees.

C-level employees generally receive a workload that is more demanding relative to others in the organization. Skills that are associated with C-level employees typically fall under business expertise, team building and leadership. In an organization, C-level employees can also be referred to as the C-Suite. Some examples of C-level employee positions include Chief Executive Officer, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Financial Officer.