// COMPENSATION_DASHBOARD > CHIEF_OF_STAFF > 2026
Chief of Staff Salary Guide 2026
The median CoS pulls $160K base. Based on aggregated public compensation data.
Salary Ranges by Seniority
2025 compensation ranges for U.S.-based Chiefs of Staff based on publicly available compensation surveys and Levels.fyi verified data. The ceiling? Depends on how close to the CEO you sit.
| Level | Experience | Base Salary | Total Comp (incl. Bonus + Equity) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior CoS* | 0–2 years | $100,000–$150,000 | $110,000–$180,000 |
| Mid-Level CoS | 2–5 years | $150,000–$191,000 | $180,000–$250,000 |
| Senior CoS | 5–10 years | $180,000–$222,000 | $225,000–$310,000 |
| VP and Above | 10+ years | $222,000–$269,000 | $287,000–$400,000 |
Median base, all experience levels. Mean: $168K.
2-year mean base growth: $131K (2023) → $168K (2025). Source: publicly available compensation surveys.
Typical equity at Series A. Varies significantly by stage. See the full guide.
Salary by City
Average total compensation by metro area (Glassdoor, 2025). SF leads at $334K — 52% above the national average of $217K. > FULL_CITY_DATA
| City | Avg Total Comp | Premium vs. National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco / Bay Area | $334,000 | +52% |
| New York City | $318,000 | +46% |
| Washington, DC | $225,000 | +3% |
| National Average | $217,000 | Baseline |
| Remote (est.) | $128,000–$150,000 base | -5–10% |
Salary by Company Stage
Median base salary by company stage (publicly available compensation surveys, 400+ respondents). $82K gap between bootstrapped and public. > FULL_STAGE_DATA
| Company Stage | Median Base | Equity (typical) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seed | $140,000 | 0.1–0.5% | High equity, lower cash |
| Series A | $160,000 | 0.05–0.2% | Balanced cash + equity |
| Series B | $170,000 | 0.025–0.1% | Stronger base, moderate equity |
| Series C+ | $196,000 | 0.01–0.05% | Market-rate base, smaller equity |
| Public | $200,000 | RSU grants | Premium base, liquid equity |
Deep Dives
What to expect and how to negotiate your equity package. Don't leave points on the table.
Step-by-step framework for negotiating your CoS offer. Silence is a strategy.
How CoS comp has evolved since 2020 and where it's heading. Spoiler: up.
Who we are and why we built this. Someone had to put real numbers on the internet.
Data Sources
Data as of Q1 2026. Salary figures reflect 2024–2025 actuals from the following sources, which we actually fetched and read:
19 verified data points. Base: P50 $180K, P75 $222K, P90 $269K. Total comp: P50 $225K, P90 $400K.
1,825 salary profiles. Avg base: $123,614. By experience: Entry $81K, Mid-career $126K, Late $161K. City breakdowns included.
18 self-reported data points. Startup salary + equity by stage: Seed $51–175K (0.009–2.0%), Series A $140–240K (0.11–0.4%).
Avg total comp: $217K national. SF: $334K (+52%), NYC: $318K. Industry and city-level breakdowns.
3,300+ customers. CoS roles command ~15% premium over Business Ops at same level. 66% leave vs. transition internally.
Avg startup CoS salary: $124,409. City-level data for startup-specific roles.