Technology · Level M5 · Salary
CTO salary
Typical total compensation (US national)
$1,020,000–$1,150,000
Base
$360,000
Bonus
$120,000
Equity (annual)
$600,000
Indicative, sourced — not a guarantee. CTAIO CTO Salary Guide 2026: total $250k-$500k+ (cash-heavy at mature cos); startup CTO equity can dominate (founder/early equity out of scope)
Pay by metro — nominal vs cost-adjusted
“Real” adjusts for cost of living, so a high headline number in an expensive metro can be worth less in practice. Ranked by real pay.
| Metro | Nominal | Real (cost-adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | $1,134,000 | $1,111,765 |
| Remote (US national) | $1,080,000 | $1,080,000 |
| Atlanta | $1,058,400 | $1,080,000 |
| Seattle | $1,274,400 | $1,062,000 |
| Chicago | $1,080,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Denver | $1,080,000 | $981,818 |
| Boston | $1,166,400 | $864,000 |
| New York City | $1,274,400 | $822,194 |
| Los Angeles | $1,166,400 | $804,414 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | $1,350,000 | $750,000 |