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CEO Salary and Equity Compensation in Startups 2026

CEO Salary and Equity in 2026

How much do CEOs expect to make at US-based startups? The average expected salary for CEOs in a startup is 113k per year, with a range from 45k to 402k. The salary range for CEOs varies depending on factors such as location, industry, experience, skills, and startup stage.

112.9k

Average Salary

5 years

Average years of experience

Salary

The average CEO salary is $112,917, which is 0.1% higher than the average startup salary of $112,833. CEO salaries are based on exclusive Wellfound data. All data is updated on a weekly basis. Factors that may influence salary include: location, years of experience, title, size of company, skill-set, and industry.

Top of market

$266,708/yr

Range $195k - $402k

Average

$112,917/yr

Range $75k - $160k

Below Average

$69,417/yr

Range $45k - $92k

Top Locations

The highest average salary a CEO can get in Austin, that is $215,000. This pay is 90.4% higher than the average CEO salary in startups, which is $112,917. Salaries will vary based on your location. The top-paying markets in the US, on average, are currently: Austin (avg $215,000 per year), Boston (avg $215,000 per year), New York (avg $131,000 per year). Remote jobs often pay based on the location you reside in.

Austin

$215k

Boston

$215k

New York

$131k

Denver

$115k

Los Angeles

$85k

London

$75k

Chicago

View Salaries

San Diego

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Industries

The highest average salary a CEO can get in Cryptocurrency, that is $402,000. This pay is 84.7% higher than the average CEO salary, which is $217,600. The highest-paying industries in 2023 are: Cryptocurrency (avg $402,000 per year), Construction (avg $225,000 per year), United States (avg $225,000 per year).

Years of experience