Chief Marketing Officer Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$260,000
national median salary
$195,000 to $340,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $213,990 for Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) across the United States, based on 204,350 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$75,700
25th percentile
$129,540
Median
$213,990
75th percentile
$356,200
90th percentile
$507,730
Workers surveyed
204,350
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$206,420
May 2025 release
$213,990
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) rather than Chief Marketing Officerspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 11-1011Highest Paying
$366,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$271,000
Philadelphia, PA
Lowest Paying
$197,000
Jackson, MS
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 11-1011. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Chief Marketing Officer salary in the United States at $260,000 in 2026, within a range of $195,000 to $340,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $366,000, while Philadelphia offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Industry, company revenue, and attribution to marketing-sourced pipeline are the strongest pay factors.
Chief Marketing Officer salary by city.
Skills that increase Chief Marketing Officer pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Chief Marketing Officers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $36,400 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$36,400 per year
≈ +$33,800 per year
≈ +$31,200 per year
≈ +$28,600 per year
≈ +$28,600 per year
≈ +$26,000 per year
≈ +$26,000 per year
≈ +$23,400 per year
What you should know.
Industry, company revenue, and attribution to marketing-sourced pipeline are the strongest pay factors. CMOs at B2B SaaS companies with clear revenue attribution earn more than those in brand-heavy B2C roles. Experience with successful IPO marketing, category creation, or hypergrowth scaling commands premium compensation.
Directors of marketing earn $140,000 to $195,000. VPs of marketing advance to $185,000 to $270,000. CMOs at mid-market companies make $230,000 to $310,000. CMOs at large enterprises or public tech companies reach $320,000 to $420,000 in base with total comp of $600,000 to $1.5 million.
Performance bonuses of 25 to 50% of base tied to pipeline generation, brand metrics, and revenue targets are standard. Equity grants at growth companies add $100,000 to $500,000 in annualized value. Some CMOs negotiate marketing budget floors as part of their package.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Chief Marketing Officers typically earn $247,000 (5% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Chief Marketing Officer pay.
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