Chief Technology Officer Salary.
Across 30 U.S. cities.
$290,000
national median salary
$215,000 to $380,000. Last updated April 2026.
Highest Paying
$412,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$302,000
New York, NY
Lowest Paying
$231,000
Jackson, MS
Salary data sourced from SEC filings, H-1B Labor Condition Applications (DOL), Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and aggregated job postings across 50+ platforms. Ranges reflect 25th to 75th percentile for full-time positions. Cost-of-living adjustments use Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2025 index). Last updated April 2026.
The average Chief Technology Officer salary in the United States is $290,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $215,000 at the 25th percentile to $380,000 at the 75th. San Jose pays the most at $412,000, while New York offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Technical domain expertise, company stage, and engineering team size are the primary drivers.
Chief Technology Officer salary by city
What you should know
Technical domain expertise, company stage, and engineering team size are the primary drivers. CTOs managing teams of 100 or more engineers earn substantially more than those at smaller organizations. Specialization in AI, cloud infrastructure, or cybersecurity commands above-market premiums in the current talent landscape.
Directors of engineering earn $170,000 to $230,000. VPs of engineering advance to $220,000 to $300,000. CTOs at Series B to C startups make $250,000 to $330,000. CTOs at public tech companies or large enterprises reach $350,000 to $450,000 in base with total comp exceeding $1.5 million.
Equity compensation is typically the largest component, with CTOs at pre-IPO companies receiving grants worth $300,000 to $2 million annually. Cash bonuses of 25 to 40% of base and retention packages of $100,000 to $300,000 over two to three years are common.