How much does a full-time CQO earn in the UK

Full-time CQO salaries average 106169 GBP with a range of 90000-150000.

What qualifications do CQOs need

CQOs typically hold quality certifications like CQE and CQM plus 15-20 years experience.

Which industries pay CQOs the most

Pharmaceuticals and medical devices pay the highest due to regulatory requirements.

What is the difference between CQO and Quality Director

CQOs are C-suite with board-level responsibility. Quality Directors report to CQO or COO.

How much does a full-time CQO earn in the UK

Full-time CQO salaries average 106169 GBP with a range of 90000-150000.

What qualifications do CQOs need

CQOs typically hold quality certifications like CQE and CQM plus 15-20 years experience.

Which industries pay CQOs the most

Pharmaceuticals and medical devices pay the highest due to regulatory requirements.

What is the difference between CQO and Quality Director

CQOs are C-suite with board-level responsibility. Quality Directors report to CQO or COO.

Fractional CQO Salary UK

Chief Quality Officer compensation benchmarks 2026

£800-2,000

Day Rate

2-6 weeks

Time to Hire

50-70%

Cost Savings

↓

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Quick Cost Calculator

See your potential savings

Days per week

Monthly Cost£8,000

vs Full-Time£22,000

You Save£14,000 (64%)

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📖1 min read

📅Updated 1 Feb 2026

📝148 words

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£800-1500

Day Rate

📅

1-3

Days/Week

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50-70%

Cost Savings

🎯

500+

UK Placements

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Key Takeaways

1Fractional CFOs work 1-3 days per week, providing senior expertise without full-time costs
2UK day rates range from £800 to £1500, depending on experience and sector
3Typical engagements save 50-70% compared to full-time executive hires
4Ideal for startups, scale-ups, and SMEs needing strategic leadership
5No employment overhead: no pension, NI, benefits, or notice periods

Latest Fractional Jobs

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What is a Chief Quality Officer

Quick Definition

A Chief Quality Officer leads enterprise-wide quality management regulatory compliance and continuous improvement. In regulated industries like pharmaceuticals and medical devices the CQO ensures products meet safety standards.

CQO Salary Overview 2026

According to SalaryExpert the average Chief Quality Officer salary in the UK is 106169 GBP plus bonus. PayScale shows QA Directors earning 72126 GBP average range 46000-103000. CQOs command 30-50 percent premium for C-suite responsibility.

CQO Day Rates by Industry

Industry	Day Rate	Annual FTE
Pharmaceuticals	1100-1500 GBP	120000-150000
Medical Devices	1000-1400 GBP	110000-140000
Manufacturing	850-1200 GBP	90000-120000

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Cost Comparison

Fractional vs Full-Time Executive

Full-Time Executive£286k/year

Salary + Benefits + Overhead

Fractional Executive£106k/year

1-2 days/week average

Your Potential Savings

£180k+

63%

saved

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Time Allocation

How fractional executives spend their time

Strategy30%

Operations25%

Leadership20%

Governance15%

Technology10%

Fractional CQO Salary Guide UK

Fractional Chief Quality Officers are highly valued in manufacturing, healthcare, and regulated industries where quality assurance leadership is essential but full-time hires are not always justified.

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CQO [Day Rates](/fractional-executive-day-rates "Fractional Executive Day Rates") by Sector

Sector	Day Rate	Annual Equivalent
Pharma/Life Sciences	£1,000-£1,400/day	£200-280k
Manufacturing	£900-£1,200/day	£180-240k
Tech/SaaS	£850-£1,100/day	£170-220k

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Factors Affecting CQO Rates

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Regulatory environment: FDA, MHRA, ISO-certified sectors pay premiums

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Quality systems: Six Sigma, TQM, and Lean expertise adds 15-20%

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Audit experience: Lead auditor certifications increase rates

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Industry specifics: GMP, GCP, and GLP experience in pharma commands top rates

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Fractional CQO Jobs UK

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Interim CQO Jobs

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Part-Time CQO Jobs

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Hire a Fractional CQO

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UK Fractional Jobs

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UK Fractional Executive Day Rates

Compare day rates across C-suite roles

CFOThis Role£800 - £1500/day

£1100

CTO£900 - £1600/day

£1200

CMO£750 - £1400/day

£1000

COO£800 - £1400/day

£1050

CDO£900 - £1450/day

£1150

CISO£900 - £1550/day

£1200

Rate Range

Average

Source: UK Market Data 2025

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Fractional vs Interim vs Full-Time

Choose the right engagement model

Aspect	Fractional	Interim	Full-Time
Time Commitment	1-3 days/week	4-5 days/week	5 days/week
Duration	Ongoing/flexible	3-12 months	Permanent
Annual Cost	£50-150k	£150-300k	£200-400k+
Best For	SMEs, startups, scale-ups	Crisis, transitions	Large enterprises
Flexibility	★★★ High	★★☆ Medium	★☆☆ Low

Costs are indicative UK market rates. Actual costs vary by role, experience, and sector.

Calculate Your Day Rate

Fractional CFO Earnings

Calculate Your Potential Income

Your Day Rate

£1,000

£750Avg: £1000£1500

Days Per Client/Week

2.5 days

1 day5 days

Number of Clients

2 clients

Weekly

£5,000

Monthly

£21,650

Annual

£240,000

Based on 2.5 days/week x 2 clients x 48 working weeks. CFO UK average day rate: £1000.

BetaThis calculator provides rough estimates for illustration only. Actual rates and salaries vary based on location, experience, industry, and market conditions.

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