The secretary serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all matters relating to commerce.

The secretary reports directly to the president and is a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States.

The secretary is appointed by the president, with the advice and consent of the United States Senate.

[3] The secretary of commerce is a Level I position in the Executive Schedule[4] with an annual salary of US$221,400, as of January 2021.

[6] Independent (1) Democratic (21) Republican (19) Maryland The line of succession for the secretary of commerce is as follows:[8]