The salary of a CTO in the United States varies depending on several factors, including experience, location, education level, marketing trend and company sizes.
As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a CTO in the United States is $264,600. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $246,500 to $298,900, with most professionals earning between $230,021 and $330,128.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $298,900 | $24,908 | $5,748 | $144 |
| Average | $264,600 | $22,050 | $5,088 | $127 |
| 25th Percentile | $246,500 | $20,542 | $4,740 | $119 |
An entry-level CTO with less than 1 year of experience earns about $253,524. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $255,145. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $256,496. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $258,657, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $261,358.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level CTO | $253,524 |
| Intermediate Level CTO | $255,145 |
| Senior Level CTO | $256,496 |
| Specialist Level CTO | $258,657 |
| Expert Level CTO | $261,358 |
| Entry Level | 4% |
| Mid Level | 4% |
| Senior Level | 3% |
| Top Level | 2% |
| Experienced | 1% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of April 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in CTO compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $243,673 in 2023 to approximately $243,800 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of CTO salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of CTO information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see CTO job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for CTO and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $264,600 | 75.8% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $14,290 | 4.1% | ||
| 401K/403B | $10,500 | 3.0% | ||
| Disability | $5,292 | 1.5% | ||
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 2.4% | ||
| Pension | $13,500 | 3.9% | ||
| Time Off | $32,566 | 9.3% | ||
| Total Compensation | $349,100 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 1.6% |
| High School | 5.6% |
| Associates | 6.7% |
| Bachelors | 39.3% |
| Masters | 32.9% |
| Doctorate | 13.9% |
What Am I Worth?
The highest salary for a CTO is ₹34.71 Lakhs per year (₹2.89 Lakhs per month).
Typically, a professional must work in the IT field for at least 15 years before seeking employment as a CTO. This experience is crucial for developing the skills to lead an entire organization's technology strategy. The salary for a CTO ranges from $268,100 to $347,100, with a mid-salary of $302,700, reflecting the high level of expertise required for the role.
CTOs can earn significantly more than CIOs, especially in competitive markets. As of 2023, CTO salaries range from a minimum of $268,100 to a maximum of $347,100, with a mid-salary of $302,700. In contrast, the average annual base salary for a CIO in the U.S. is $167,841, highlighting the higher earning potential for CTOs.
The salary data for CTOs in Fortune 500 companies indicates a minimum salary of $268,100, a mid-range salary of $302,700, and a maximum salary of $347,100. While the average base salary is reported around $350,000, total compensation, including bonuses, can exceed $500,000 in some cases.
The salary range for a Chief Technology Officer at Tesla is approximately $268,100 to $347,100 per year, with a mid-salary of around $302,700. This figure reflects the base salary and does not include additional compensation.
A Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in the US typically earns between $268,100 and $347,100 annually. The average salary is around $302,700 per year, reflecting the critical role CTOs play in leading technology strategies and innovations within organizations.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
