Technology · Level M4
VP of Engineering
Executive owner of engineering, contributing to company strategy with the business acumen and exec presence the role demands. Equity dominates and swings widely by stage.
Typical total compensation (US)
$930,000median
Range $880,000–$990,000 · base $330,000 · bonus $100,000 · equity $500,000
Indicative, sourced ranges — not a guarantee. KORE1 / CTAIO VP of Engineering Salary Guide 2026: base median ~$215-300k; total $245k (Series A) to $1.4M+ (public hyperscaler)
At a glance
Difficulty
High
Hiring demand
Low
Competition
Medium
AI task-risk
Low
AI & this role: Executive scope. The move is to climb the scope ladder, not to fear the tool.
What differentiates you at this level
- leadershipExecutive presence + business acumen
- leadershipCompany-level strategy contribution
Where this leads — your highest-value routes
Ranked by pay ceiling. Progression is driven by scope and level transitions, not tenure.