With the comprehensive and deep implementation of the rural revitalization strategy， the professionalization of village cadres has increasingly become an important organizational approach for promoting the construction of rural governance systems. Based on micro-survey data from ten provinces （including municipalities directly under the central government） in 2022， this study empirically analyzes the impact of professionalization of village cadres on the rural governance effectiveness. The results show the professionalization of village cadres has a significant positive effect on the effectiveness of village governance in general. Specifically， the formalization of village cadre positions and the standardization of management have a significant positive impact on rural governance effectiveness， while the institutionalization of promotion systems and the sustainability of development do not have a significant effect. The mechanism analysis reveals that village cadre professionalization influences rural governance effectiveness through enhanced digitization governance and increased rural collective operating income. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that village cadre professionalization has a significant positive impact on rural governance in eastern and central regions， as well as in suburban and mid-suburban villages. However， it has a significant negative impact in villages in western regions and remote suburbs. Accordingly， it is proposed to promote the professionalization of village cadres according to local conditions， strengthen the principle and service awareness of village cadres， steadily and prudently promote the use of digital technology to innovate the rural governance model，and develop and expand the rural collective economy to improve the endogenous development capacity of rural areas.