Technology58% remote-eligible+5.5% YoY growth

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Salary
by City (2026)

C-suite executive responsible for technology strategy, engineering, and innovation. National median: $322K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$322K

Top 10% earn

$538K

Entry level

$245K

Salary growth

+5.5%/yr

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$404K	$531K	$690K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$387K	$509K	$660K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$365K	$479K	$622K	187	6.85%
Oakland, CA	$363K	$477K	$619K	185	9.3%
Cambridge, MA	$362K	$476K	$617K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$362K	$476K	$617K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$349K	$458K	$595K	175	None ✓
Seattle, WA	$348K	$457K	$594K	150	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$345K	$453K	$588K	172	9.3%
Washington, DC	$343K	$451K	$585K	152	8.5%
Boston, MA	$338K	$444K	$577K	162	5%
Jersey City, NJ	$338K	$444K	$577K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$335K	$441K	$572K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$335K	$441K	$572K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$331K	$436K	$566K	162	None ✓
Los Angeles, CA	$331K	$435K	$564K	163	9.3%
Arlington, VA	$331K	$435K	$564K	148	5.75%
Stamford, CT	$326K	$429K	$556K	158	6.99%
Newark, NJ	$323K	$425K	$552K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$322K	$423K	$550K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$319K	$419K	$543K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$316K	$415K	$538K	150	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$314K	$412K	$535K	155	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$313K	$411K	$534K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$313K	$411K	$534K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$309K	$406K	$527K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$309K	$406K	$527K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$302K	$397K	$515K	140	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$300K	$394K	$511K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$300K	$394K	$511K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$300K	$394K	$511K	138	None ✓
Austin, TX	$299K	$393K	$510K	110	None ✓
Portland, OR	$299K	$393K	$510K	130	9.9%
Sacramento, CA	$289K	$380K	$493K	128	9.3%
Tacoma, WA	$289K	$380K	$493K	128	None ✓
Denver, CO	$289K	$380K	$493K	118	4.55%
Plano, TX	$282K	$370K	$481K	105	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$282K	$370K	$481K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$282K	$370K	$481K	118	2.5%
Worcester, MA	$282K	$370K	$481K	120	5%
Salt Lake City, UT	$282K	$370K	$481K	105	4.85%
Baltimore, MD	$282K	$370K	$481K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$282K	$370K	$481K	192	11%
New Haven, CT	$278K	$366K	$475K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$276K	$362K	$470K	120	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$274K	$361K	$468K	96	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$274K	$361K	$468K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$274K	$361K	$468K	123	None ✓
Durham, NC	$274K	$361K	$468K	100	4.75%
Philadelphia, PA	$274K	$361K	$468K	110	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$274K	$361K	$468K	106	6.8%
Frisco, TX	$273K	$359K	$466K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$273K	$359K	$466K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$273K	$359K	$466K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$273K	$359K	$466K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$273K	$359K	$466K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$273K	$359K	$466K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$273K	$359K	$466K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$273K	$359K	$466K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$273K	$359K	$466K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$273K	$359K	$466K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$269K	$354K	$459K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$269K	$354K	$459K	115	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$270K	$354K	$460K	112	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$269K	$354K	$459K	115	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$270K	$354K	$460K	99	5.75%
Raleigh, NC	$270K	$354K	$460K	102	4.75%
Ann Arbor, MI	$269K	$354K	$459K	115	4.25%
Provo, UT	$270K	$354K	$460K	100	4.85%
Frederick, MD	$269K	$354K	$459K	115	5.75%
Hartford, CT	$270K	$354K	$460K	118	6.99%
Portland, ME	$269K	$354K	$459K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$269K	$354K	$459K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$269K	$354K	$459K	115	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$270K	$354K	$460K	128	None ✓
Irving, TX	$265K	$348K	$451K	97	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$265K	$348K	$451K	118	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$265K	$348K	$452K	112	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$265K	$348K	$451K	105	2.5%
Fort Collins, CO	$265K	$348K	$452K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$265K	$348K	$452K	112	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$265K	$348K	$451K	104	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$262K	$345K	$448K	110	9.9%
Round Rock, TX	$260K	$341K	$443K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$260K	$341K	$443K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$260K	$341K	$443K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$260K	$341K	$443K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$260K	$341K	$443K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$260K	$341K	$443K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$257K	$338K	$439K	91	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$257K	$338K	$439K	93	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$257K	$338K	$439K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$257K	$338K	$439K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$257K	$338K	$439K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$257K	$338K	$439K	102	None ✓
Pittsburgh, PA	$257K	$338K	$439K	90	3.07%
Reno, NV	$257K	$338K	$439K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$256K	$336K	$436K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$256K	$336K	$436K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$256K	$336K	$436K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$256K	$336K	$436K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$256K	$336K	$436K	105	5.8%
Carrollton, TX	$252K	$331K	$429K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$252K	$331K	$429K	102	6.75%
Arlington, TX	$250K	$328K	$426K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$250K	$328K	$426K	91	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$250K	$328K	$426K	100	None ✓
Huntsville, AL	$250K	$328K	$426K	88	5%
Denton, TX	$249K	$327K	$425K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$249K	$327K	$425K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$249K	$327K	$425K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$249K	$327K	$425K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$249K	$327K	$425K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$249K	$327K	$425K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$249K	$327K	$425K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$249K	$327K	$425K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$246K	$324K	$421K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$246K	$324K	$421K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$246K	$324K	$421K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$246K	$324K	$421K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$246K	$324K	$421K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$246K	$324K	$421K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$246K	$324K	$421K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$246K	$324K	$421K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$246K	$324K	$421K	98	7.15%
St. Petersburg, FL	$245K	$322K	$418K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$245K	$322K	$418K	98	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$245K	$322K	$418K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$245K	$322K	$418K	90	3.99%
Madison, WI	$245K	$322K	$418K	102	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$245K	$322K	$418K	105	6.5%
Bakersfield, CA	$242K	$318K	$413K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$242K	$318K	$413K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$242K	$318K	$413K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$242K	$318K	$413K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$242K	$318K	$413K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$242K	$318K	$413K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$242K	$318K	$413K	95	6.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$240K	$316K	$410K	102	4.55%
Virginia Beach, VA	$240K	$316K	$410K	98	5.75%
Kansas City, MO	$240K	$316K	$410K	90	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$240K	$316K	$410K	102	None ✓
Midland, TX	$238K	$313K	$407K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$238K	$313K	$407K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$238K	$313K	$407K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$238K	$313K	$407K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$238K	$313K	$407K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$236K	$310K	$402K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$236K	$310K	$402K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$236K	$310K	$402K	90	4.95%
Sterling Heights, MI	$236K	$310K	$402K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$236K	$310K	$402K	90	5.3%
Fargo, ND	$236K	$310K	$402K	90	2.5%
Cincinnati, OH	$235K	$309K	$401K	88	3.99%
St. Louis, MO	$235K	$309K	$401K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$235K	$309K	$401K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$235K	$309K	$401K	90	5.3%
Pasadena, TX	$233K	$306K	$398K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$233K	$306K	$398K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$233K	$306K	$397K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$233K	$306K	$397K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$233K	$306K	$398K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$233K	$306K	$397K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$233K	$306K	$398K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$233K	$306K	$398K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$233K	$306K	$398K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$233K	$306K	$397K	82	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$233K	$306K	$398K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$233K	$306K	$398K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$233K	$306K	$398K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$233K	$306K	$398K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$233K	$306K	$398K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$233K	$306K	$398K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$233K	$306K	$398K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$229K	$301K	$391K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$229K	$301K	$391K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$229K	$301K	$391K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$229K	$301K	$391K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$229K	$301K	$391K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$229K	$301K	$391K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$229K	$301K	$391K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$229K	$301K	$391K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$229K	$301K	$391K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$229K	$301K	$391K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$229K	$301K	$391K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$229K	$301K	$391K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$229K	$301K	$391K	85	4.9%
San Antonio, TX	$225K	$296K	$385K	87	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$225K	$296K	$384K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$225K	$296K	$384K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$225K	$296K	$385K	88	6.85%
Spokane, WA	$225K	$296K	$385K	95	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$225K	$296K	$384K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$225K	$296K	$384K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$225K	$296K	$384K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$225K	$296K	$384K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$225K	$296K	$384K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$225K	$296K	$384K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$225K	$296K	$385K	85	5%
Mobile, AL	$225K	$296K	$384K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$225K	$296K	$384K	82	4.75%
Des Moines, IA	$225K	$296K	$385K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$225K	$296K	$384K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$222K	$292K	$380K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$222K	$292K	$380K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$222K	$292K	$380K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$222K	$292K	$380K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$222K	$292K	$380K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$222K	$292K	$380K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$222K	$292K	$380K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$222K	$292K	$380K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$222K	$292K	$380K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$222K	$292K	$380K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$222K	$292K	$380K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$222K	$292K	$380K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$222K	$292K	$380K	80	5%
Cleveland, OH	$221K	$290K	$376K	82	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$221K	$290K	$376K	90	4.25%
New Orleans, LA	$221K	$290K	$376K	92	6%
Omaha, NE	$221K	$290K	$376K	88	5.84%
Abilene, TX	$220K	$289K	$375K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$220K	$289K	$375K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$220K	$289K	$375K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$220K	$289K	$375K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$220K	$289K	$375K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$220K	$289K	$375K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$216K	$284K	$368K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$216K	$284K	$368K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$216K	$284K	$368K	75	6.5%
Tucson, AZ	$216K	$283K	$368K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$216K	$283K	$368K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$216K	$283K	$368K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$216K	$283K	$368K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$216K	$283K	$368K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$216K	$283K	$368K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$216K	$283K	$368K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$216K	$283K	$368K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$216K	$283K	$368K	88	5.9%
Corpus Christi, TX	$208K	$274K	$355K	84	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$208K	$274K	$355K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$208K	$274K	$355K	82	5.7%
El Paso, TX	$201K	$264K	$343K	82	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$201K	$264K	$343K	82	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$196K	$258K	$334K	78	None ✓
Laredo, TX	$184K	$242K	$314K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $322K Chief Technology Officer (CTO) salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is $322,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $245,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $418,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Chief Technology Officer (CTO)s nationally earn $538,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in CS; MBA preferred; 20+ years technical leadership. This role is 58% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) compensation is growing at 5.5% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified Chief Technology Officer (CTO)s significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) salary FAQ

How much does a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) make?

The median Chief Technology Officer (CTO) salary in the US is $322,000 per year — about $155/hour. Most earn between $245,000 (25th percentile) and $418,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Chief Technology Officer (CTO)?

Entry-level Chief Technology Officer (CTO) positions typically start around $245,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Chief Technology Officer (CTO)s earn?

The top 10% of Chief Technology Officer (CTO)s earn $538,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Chief Technology Officer (CTO)s the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Chief Technology Officer (CTO) salary at $531K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Chief Technology Officer (CTO) salaries going up?

Yes — Chief Technology Officer (CTO) pay is growing about 5.5% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Salaryby City (2026)