The typical tech leader’s pay rose $810k since 2021—more than COOs, CFOs, and CIOs combined

Technology leaders have seen a significant rise in their pay since 2021, with median compensation reaching $2.6 million in the most recent fiscal year, a 45.4% increase compared to 2021, according to data compiled by executive pay analytics firm C-suite Comp. This pay increase far surpasses the gains made by their peers in the C-suite, with COO compensation growing by 18.3%, CEOs by 17.2%, CFOs by 15%, and CIOs by 9.2%.

The pay hike in dollars is even more striking, with CTOs' median pay rising by $809,587 from 2021 to 2025, compared to $698,399 for CEOs. Consulting firm Compensation Advisory Partners' Dan Laddin attributes this to the increasing value of strategic CTOs in companies. Hims & Hers, a telehealth platform, demonstrated this by awarding its new CTO 1,036,339 RSUs valued at $57.2 million, more than four times the award given to its new COO.

The pay disparities highlight the growing importance of AI talent in the tech industry, as companies increasingly compete for experienced professionals in this field.