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

Full-time CSO salaries range from 110000-180000 GBP with technology vendors at the higher end.

What qualifications do CSOs need

CSOs typically have deep technical background plus 15 years solution architecture and pre-sales experience.

Which industries hire CSOs

Technology vendors consulting firms and large enterprises with complex solution requirements.

What is the difference between CSO and CTO

CSO focuses on customer-facing solutions while CTO leads internal technology strategy and development.

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

Full-time CSO salaries range from 110000-180000 GBP with technology vendors at the higher end.

What qualifications do CSOs need

CSOs typically have deep technical background plus 15 years solution architecture and pre-sales experience.

Which industries hire CSOs

Technology vendors consulting firms and large enterprises with complex solution requirements.

What is the difference between CSO and CTO

CSO focuses on customer-facing solutions while CTO leads internal technology strategy and development.

Fractional CSO Salary UK

Chief Solutions Officer compensation benchmarks for solutions architecture leadership 2026

£800-2,000

Day Rate

2-6 weeks

Time to Hire

50-70%

Cost Savings

↓

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Quick Cost Calculator

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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

📝141 words

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£800-1500

Day Rate

📅

1-3

Days/Week

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50-70%

Cost Savings

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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 Solutions Officer

Quick Definition

A Chief Solutions Officer leads solution design strategy and implementation for technology and consulting organizations. CSOs bridge customer requirements and technical capabilities to deliver integrated solutions.

CSO Solutions Salary Overview 2026

Chief Solutions Officers combine technical architecture with commercial acumen. Based on Solution Architect benchmarks from Robert Half 2026 at 78000-106750 GBP senior leadership commanding CSO-level responsibility earns 110000-180000 GBP. Technology and consulting sectors pay premium rates for proven solution leaders.

CSO Solutions Day Rates by Sector

Sector	Day Rate	Annual FTE
Technology Vendor	1100-1600 GBP	130000-200000 GBP
Consulting	1000-1400 GBP	120000-170000 GBP
Enterprise IT	900-1200 GBP	100000-150000 GBP

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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 CSO (Chief Solutions Officer) Salary Guide UK

Fractional Chief Solutions Officers bridge technology and business needs, designing scalable solutions for complex enterprise challenges. Their hybrid strategic and technical expertise commands premium rates.

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

Sector	Day Rate	Annual Equivalent
Enterprise Tech	£1,000-£1,400/day	£200-280k
Consulting/SI	£950-£1,300/day	£190-260k
SaaS/Platform	£900-£1,200/day	£180-240k

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Factors Affecting Solutions Officer Rates

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Enterprise architecture: TOGAF, cloud architecture expertise valued

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Pre-sales leadership: Complex solution selling experience adds 15-20%

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Client engagement: C-level stakeholder management capability

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Technical breadth: Multi-cloud, AI/ML, data platform knowledge

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Fractional CTO Jobs UK

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Interim CSO Jobs

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Part-Time CSO Jobs

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Fractional CTO Salary

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UK Fractional Jobs

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Fractional Recruitment Agency

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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