How Much Does a CTO Make? (2025)
A CTO, or Chief Technology Officer, is responsible for planning, developing, and leading the organization's technology strategy to align with business goals and market trends.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, some of the top industries for top executives, like CTOs, are management of companies and enterprises, professional, scientific, and technical services, healthcare and social assistance, and government.
Read this salary guide as we thoroughly discuss CTO salary insights, responsibilities, factors that affect their compensation, and how to become one.
What does a CTO do?
A chief technology officer oversees the research, development, and implementation of innovative technologies to enhance products, services, and business efficiencies.
Often used interchangeably with the chief information officer (CIO), CTOs are focused on external individuals, like customers and vendors, to ensure innovative products and services, while CIOs are focused on using technology to enhance the functions of internal employees and departments.
Here are more detailed CTO roles and responsibilities:
- They stay ahead and monitor emerging technologies, technological innovation, trends, and competitor activity to identify new opportunities for growth and competitive advantage.
- They provide technical oversight for integrating technology into business operations and establish long-term direction for technological improvements.
- They ensure an organization's utilization of technology adheres to all internal and external standards, requirements, laws, and regulations.
- They develop and implement secure data protection and quality assurance processes.
- They handle multiple teams, including engineering staff, IT, and developers, as team leaders report to them.
- They monitor and assess IT budgets, communicate technology strategies to stakeholders, and approve designs of new IT infrastructure, communication systems, and software.
What is CTO Salary Overview?
As of August 13, 2025, the average salary for CTOs in the United States is $308,900 per year. The range is from $256,172 to $375,575, with earnings mostly between $281,300 and $343,800.
The average monthly rate is $25,742 with a range from $21,348 to $31,298, while the average hourly rate is $149 with a range from $123 to $181.
2025 CTO Salary: $308,900 per year ($149 per hour)
Depending on the percentile, a CTO salary with bonus ranges from $311,443 to $761,354, with $493,700 as the average value.
| Percentile | Salary + Bonus |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $311,443 |
| 25th Percentile | $398,300 |
| 50th Percentile | $493,700 |
| 75th Percentile | $633,800 |
| 90th Percentile | $761,354 |
The average total compensation for CTOs, including the core compensation and benefits, is $614,766. The median base salary for CTOs makes up 50.2% of the total CTO compensation, while benefits like social security, healthcare, and time off make up 14.2%. Other perks that CTOs in mature companies can get are long-term incentives, like profit-sharing.
| Core Compensation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Median | % of Total | |
| Base Salary | $308,900 | 50.2% |
| Bonus | $184,800 | 30.1% |
| Value of Benefits | ||
| Social Security | $18,077 | 2.9% |
| 401K/403B | $10,500 | 1.7% |
| Disability | $9,874 | 1.6% |
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 1.4% |
| Pension | $13,500 | 2.2% |
| Time Off | $60,763 | 9.9% |
| Total Compensation | $689,546 | 100% |
What Can Affect CTO Salaries?
Factors, like experience level, geographic location, education, company size, and skills, can affect the salary for CTOs. Here are the effects of these factors in terms of annual compensation.
By Experience Level
The salary of CTOs varies depending on the experience level as background and expertise help navigate tech complexity. An entry-level CTO salary is $292,010, while an expert level with over 8 years of experience can expect $303,957 on average.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level CTO | $292,010 |
| Intermediate Level CTO | $294,482 |
| Senior Level CTO | $296,542 |
| Specialist Level CTO | $299,837 |
| Expert Level CTO | $303,957 |
By Geographic Location
Key factors why geographic location affects salaries in the United States are the local economy, cost of living, and industry presence of tech hubs. Here are the hot cities in the US, which can indicate competition for top tech talents and presence of startups:
| Cities | 25th Percentile | 50th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, California | $351,400 | $385,800 | $429,400 |
| Washington, District of Columbia | $311,500 | $342,000 | $380,700 |
| Miami, Florida | $270,300 | $296,800 | $330,400 |
| Chicago, Illinois | $290,700 | $319,200 | $355,300 |
| Boston, Massachusetts | $313,800 | $344,500 | $383,500 |
| New York, New York | $326,000 | $358,000 | $398,500 |
| Dallas, Texas | $277,800 | $305,000 | $339,600 |
According to Salary.com data, San Francisco has the most competitive pay among the hot cities, with salaries ranging from $351,400 to $429,400, while Miami has the least, with salaries ranging from $270,300 to $330,400.
By Skills
Salaries for CTOs get higher with more acquired skills, especially with competencies that have higher demands.
Data from Salary.com's Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report suggests that CTO salaries for those with skills in key areas like Kubernetes can experience the highest pay increase at 7.08%, followed by cloud security at 7.04%.
Some important skills also include Oracle, integration architecture, enterprise application integration (EAI), and infrastructure as code (IaC).
| Skills | Demand | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Kubernetes | 10.60% | +7.08% |
| Cloud Security | 10.60% | +7.04% |
| Oracle | 10.70% | +6.66% |
| Integration Architecture | 10.60% | +6.61% |
| Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) | 10.50% | +6.61% |
| Infrastructure as Code (IaC) | 10.70% | +6.59% |
By Education
In terms of education, CTOs mostly have bachelor's degrees at 39.3%, followed by those with master's degrees at 32.9%. Meanwhile, those with doctorate degrees are 13.9% and those with associate's degrees are 6.7%.
| Degree Level | % of users with this level of education |
|---|---|
| Bachelors | 39.3% |
| Masters | 32.9% |
| Doctorate | 13.9% |
| Associates | 6.7% |
How to Become a Chief Technology Officer
To become a chief technology officer, one needs to meet the educational, experience, and certification requirements. Here is how to do that:
-
Education
CTOs usually have a bachelor's degree in IT, business, cybersecurity, or other related fields. Many CTOs choose to have a double major in business and technology to prepare for an executive position. Completing a master's degree in business administration is also an advantage in establishing leadership skills. -
Experience
An extensive experience of 5 to 10 years in an IT position can hone your knowledge and competencies in technology trends. An entry-level position as a technology or business analyst is a stepping stone to management roles in the future. Also, target high-growth sectors, so that your technical leadership and strategic thinking expertise are relevant. -
Certification
Earning certifications in technology proficiency, cybersecurity, project management, strategic planning, business intelligence, and other related fields is a testament to your skill set and credentials as a technology professional. This enhances the application in proceeding for the CTO position
What are the FAQs about CTOs?
Here are some common questions about CTO salary:
What is the average CTO salary?
As of August 13, 2025, the average salary for CTOs in the United States is $308,900 per year. The range is from $256,172 to $375,575, with earnings mostly between $281,300 and $343,800.
The average monthly rate is $25,742, with a range of $21,348 to $31,298. The average hourly rate is $149 with a range of $123 to $181.
Is CTO paid more than CEO?
The CEO is usually paid more than the CTO since the chief executive officers have a broader scope of responsibilities. According to Salary.com data, the annual average salary of CTOs in the US is $308,900, while the annual average salary of CEOs is $810,800.
Is a CIO higher than a CTO?
CIOs and CTOs are typically equal in position with similar compensation. However, they differ in skill sets, responsibilities, and career paths. CTOs are focused on external individuals, like customers and vendors, to ensure innovative products and services, while CIOs are focused on using technology to enhance the functions of internal employees and departments.
