The Secretary serves as the chief advisor to the Governor on economic development and trade promotion.

The Secretary of Commerce was established in 1986 to provide greater oversight and coordination to the State's economic development activities.

The position was established, along with the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet, by the Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986.

As such, the Secretary is responsible for directing the State's development projects to economically distressed communities in order to generate new employment, help retain existing jobs and stimulate industrial and commercial growth.

The Secretary, unless filling an additional role which carries a greater salary, is entitled to annual pay of $70,000.