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Artificial Intelligence

CTO salary in Artificial Intelligence startups in 2026

How much does a CTO expect to make in Artificial Intelligence startups? The average expected salary for CTOs in Artificial Intelligence startups is 108k per year, with a range from 20k to 261k. These amounts were gathered from Wellfound self-reported data and represent the median salary range. The salary range for CTOs in Artificial Intelligence startup varies depending on factors such as location, experience, skills, and startup stage.

107.6k

Average Salary

5 years

Average years of experience

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Salary

By quarter
The average salary for a CTO in Artificial Intelligence startups is $107,604, which is 19.1% lower than the average salary of $133,042 in Artificial Intelligence startups. CTO salaries in Artificial Intelligence 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, and skill-set.

Top of market

$206,333/yr

Range $160k - $261k

Average

$107,604/yr

Range $51k - $160k

Below Average

$66,563/yr

Range $20k - $105k


Top Locations

The highest average salary a CTO in Artificial Intelligence can get in Remote, that is $200,000. This pay is 85.9% higher than the average CTO salary in Artificial Intelligence startups, which is $107,604. Salaries will vary based on your location. The top-paying markets in the US, on average, are currently: Remote (avg $200,000 per year), Boston (avg $150,000 per year), Denver (avg $150,000 per year). Remote jobs often pay based on the location you reside in.
Remote

$200k

Boston

$150k

Denver

$150k

Seattle

$145k

Austin

$135k

London

$135k

Los Angeles
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San Francisco Bay Area
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Years of experience

Below Average

Average

Top of Market

The highest average salary a CTO in Artificial Intelligence can get with 10+ years of experience, that is $97,000. This pay is 27.1% lower than the average salary in Artificial Intelligence startups, which is $133,042. The salary range varies with years of experience and depends on other factors such as skill set, size of company, and industry.