// ABOUT
ABOUT THIS DATA
last_updated: 2026 | status: ACTIVE | version: 2.0
## WHAT_IS_COS_COMP
CoS Comp is a free salary resource built by Resonance Search specifically for Chiefs of Staff. We have conducted 100+ Chief of Staff searches since 2023, and we built this resource so candidates evaluating an offer, employers building a compensation package, or anyone curious about market rates has a credible reference document grounded in real placement data.
We publish salary ranges by city, company stage, and seniority level, along with guides on equity, negotiation, and compensation trends.
coverage: nationwide | roles: chief_of_staff | cost: $0
## WHY_WE_BUILT_THIS
We built this because, as recruiters who place Chiefs of Staff every week, we saw firsthand how bad the salary data was. Like, embarrassingly bad. Generic salary databases lump Chiefs of Staff in with executive assistants or operations managers. Which is like lumping a CFO in with "people who use Excel."
At Resonance Search, we kept running into the same problem: candidates had no reliable benchmarks, and employers were guessing at comp bands. The Chief of Staff role is growing rapidly across startups and established companies alike, yet compensation data for the role remains fragmented. We had real placement data sitting in our systems — so we published it.
Public comp data. No registration. No agenda. Backed by real placement outcomes.
motivation: transparency | frustration_level: HIGH | regrets: none
## DATA_SOURCES
Our primary data source is Resonance Search placement data — real offers and closed compensation packages from the 100+ Chief of Staff searches we have conducted since 2023. We cross-reference this with publicly available compensation surveys and databases to ensure our ranges hold up against the broader market. Every number on this site traces back to either our placement data or a verified public source. Where city-level or stage-level data is unavailable, we say so explicitly ("estimated" or "limited public data").
Sourced from Resonance Search placement data and public market benchmarks including Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, PayScale, and other publicly available compensation sources. Updated Q1 2026.
01: Levels.fyi — Chief of Staff // verified comp submissions
02: Glassdoor — Chief of Staff Salaries // city-level total comp, industry data
03: PayScale — Chief of Staff Salary // 1,825+ profiles, city breakdowns
04: Pave — CoS Compensation Benchmarks // startup-specific comp data
05: ZipRecruiter — CoS Startup Salary // startup role benchmarks
00: Resonance Search — Placement Data // 100+ CoS searches since 2023
[DATA_FRESHNESS: Q1 2026] [CONFIDENCE: AGGREGATED]
Where city-level or stage-level data is unavailable from public sources, we say so explicitly. PayScale's averages skew lower because they capture a broader definition of "Chief of Staff" including non-tech roles. We cross-reference our own placement outcomes with multiple public sources and flag where data is thin. Note: the salary ranges shown on this site reflect base salary. Based on our placements, on-target earnings (OTE) including bonuses typically run 10-15% higher than base.
## SUPPORTED_BY
This resource is built and maintained by Resonance Search, a recruiting firm with a dedicated Chief of Staff practice. We have conducted 100+ Chief of Staff searches since 2023 — the majority at VP, Senior Director, or C-suite level. The median OTE for a VP-level CoS placed through Resonance Search is approximately $205K, and about half of our VP-level placements close above $200K in total cash compensation. We place Chiefs of Staff at startups and growth-stage companies across product, operations, and GTM functions.
org: Resonance Search
type: recruiting_firm
focus: chief_of_staff + senior_operators
searches: 100+ since 2023
vp_median_ote: ~$205K
stages: seed → growth