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CMO Salary and Equity in 2026
How much do CMOs expect to make at US-based startups? The average expected salary for CMOs in a startup is 142k per year, with a range from 54k to 427k. The salary range for CMOs varies depending on factors such as location, industry, experience, skills, and startup stage.
141.6k
Average Salary
5 years
Average years of experience
Salary
The average CMO salary is $141,583, which is 25.5% higher than the average startup salary of $112,833. CMO 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
$271,292/yr
Range $160k - $427k
Average
$141,583/yr
Range $72k - $195k
Below Average
$85,083/yr
Range $54k - $160k
Top Locations
The highest average salary a CMO can get in Vancouver, that is $400,000. This pay is 182.5% higher than the average CMO salary in startups, which is $141,583. Salaries will vary based on your location. The top-paying markets in the US, on average, are currently: Vancouver (avg $400,000 per year), Los Angeles (avg $160,000 per year), Toronto (avg $142,500 per year). Remote jobs often pay based on the location you reside in.
Industries
The highest average salary a CMO can get in Marketplace, that is $400,000. This pay is 68.1% higher than the average CMO salary, which is $238,000. The highest-paying industries in 2023 are: Marketplace (avg $400,000 per year), Accounting (avg $285,000 per year), Software (avg $285,000 per year).
Years of experience
Below Average
Average
Top of Market
The highest average salary a CMO can get with 10+ years of experience, that is $100,000. This pay is 29.4% lower than the average CMO salary, which is $141,583. The salary range varies with years of experience and depends on other factors such as skill set, size of company, and industry.
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