Same title. Completely different roles. So, what’s the deal with scaleup chief technology officer (CTO) salaries in 2025? Job titles often don’t help. Because the same title can mean completely different things at different companies.
This means benchmarking CTO salaries is tough, and so it’s confusing for job hunters to know what to expect.
So, let’s break down CTO salaries in London:
- Series A: £150,000 to £200,000
- Late-stage venture capital (VC) or a private equity (PE) backed: £175,000 to £250,000
- Established: £275,000 to £300,000
B2B fintech, software as a service (SaaS) and enterprise AI continue to lead, salary wise. And, of course, US firms pay higher than European ones.
Remote vs hybrid work from home (WFH) – does this change salary expectations?
Absolutely! Companies are now paying more for London-based employees due to the high cost of living. But, if you’re fully remote in a lower-cost location, expect a different pay scale.
Naturally, team size varies wildly between these roles:
- Series A: Expect 10 to 50 tech staff
- Late-stage VC/PE-backed: 50-plus tech staff
- Established: 100-plus tech staff
Equity, shares or bonus potential?
Ok, so this part is interesting, as VC and PE firms are offering potentially huge playouts on a trade sale or event.
For series A, expect higher percentage in equity (one to two per cent) but obviously higher risk.
For late-stage VC/PE-backed, probably the sweet spot, its less percentage on paper but a life changing upside with a company that is already established and a higher chance of success.
And, at a listed company, you’ll get stock options that can be sold, (£100,000/£200,000 a year).
What’s actually needed in each role?
At series A:
– Hands-on, player-coach role (sorry, I know this term annoys CTOs, but it’s what’s requested).
– Deeply involved in technical work
– Mentoring junior team members
– Typically, a VP engineering moving up
– Strong technical architecture knowledge required.
Late-stage VC/PE-backed:
– Proven ability to scale software teams
– C-suite experience essential
– Not hands-on but focused on team-building and leadership with corporate experience in governance and security.
Established company
– Manage 100+ tech staff across multiple countries
– Influence the board and investors
– Focus on strategy and large budgets
– Experienced in matrix management and larger-scale operations
Additionally, we’re seeing a shift whereby many companies are hiring seasoned CTOs as part-time advisors or mentors to guide their leadership teams.
So, the conclusion is the same title CTO but a huge difference between each company.
Hiring a CTO? Get in touch with me for a confidential chat about executive search.
