2025–2026 Data · CFO Career Intelligence · Not Investment Advice
A practitioner benchmark of CFO pay by company stage, sector, geography, and equity — built for negotiation leverage, not vanity. 320+ data points across the US market.
| Stage | Base | Total Cash | Equity Value | Equity % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seed / Pre-A $1M–$5M raised | $175K | $185K | $145–$225K | 1.5–3.0% |
| Series A $8M–$20M raised | $250K | $310K | $240–$380K | 0.5–1.5% |
| Series B $30M–$80M raised | $320K | $420K | $350–$520K | 0.25–0.75% |
| Series C+ $100M–$300M raised | $400K | $580K | $480–$720K | 0.1–0.35% |
| Pre-IPO / Late Unicorn / S-1 stage | $480K | $780K | $620K–$1.1M | 0.05–0.2% |
| Public Co. Mid-cap $500M–$2B rev | $600K | $1,400K | $1.1M–$2.2M | RSU-based |
At Series B+, bonuses average 25–35% of base. Optimizing equity cliff schedules and accelerators can add 40–60% to realized 4-year value. Base is the floor, not the ceiling.
Fractional CFO day rates now range $2,500–$6,500/day for Series A–C mandates. Equity-only or hybrid arrangements are increasingly common at pre-revenue AI startups.
CFOs hired 18–24 months ahead of a planned IPO receive a 15–25% comp premium over peers at equivalent-stage companies, reflecting the execution risk they absorb.