A study by the CMO Council on “CMO Compensation: Erosion, Stagnation or Elevation?” shows that CMOs who directly report to the CEO earn a lot more compared to their peers. The survey, which was conducted before the World Health Organization declared the global pandemic, also found that 85% of CMOs receive bonus-based compensation.
Additionally, last year CMOs at large firms (250+ employees) pulled in an average of $305,000 in salary and bonus. Those in medium size firms (50-249 employees) took home an average of more than $212,000 in base and bonus, while those in small firms (10-49 employees) received the lowest tally at just over $118,000. Interestingly, CMOs at micro firms (those with 9 or less staffers) earned an average of more than $196,000, with the bulk of that total coming from salary.