Fractional CTO Salary UK
2025 salary guide for fractional CTOs. Day rates, annual compensation, hourly rates, and what affects fractional CTO pay in the UK.
£900-£1,400Day Rate Range
£180k-£280k+Annual (2-3 clients)
FinTech +15%Premium
Fractional CTO Salary Breakdown
UK Fractional CTO Day Rates
- Entry-level (10-12 years): £800-£950/day
- Mid-level (15 years): £950-£1,150/day
- Senior (18-20 years): £1,150-£1,300/day
- Experienced (20+ years): £1,300-£1,400+/day
Annual Compensation (Based on 2-3 Client Engagements)
- 2 days/week average: £90k-£140k per client → £180k-£280k+ total
- 3 days/week average: £130k-£200k per client → £260k-£400k+ total
- Note: Most fractional CTOs work 2-3 days/week with 2-3 clients simultaneously
Location Premiums
- London: +10-15% premium (£1,000-£1,400/day)
- South East (outside London): Standard rates
- Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh: -10-15% discount (£800-£1,200/day)
- Remote roles: Typically London rates regardless of location
Industry Premiums
- FinTech: +10-15% (£1,000-£1,600/day) - Regulatory complexity
- SaaS: +5-10% (£950-£1,400/day) - Scalability expertise
- HealthTech: +5-10% (£950-£1,300/day) - Compliance requirements
- Deep Tech/AI: +10-15% (£1,000-£1,600/day) - Specialized skills
- Standard startups: Base rates (£900-£1,200/day)
Factors Affecting Fractional CTO Salary
- Experience: 20+ years commands premium rates
- Track record: Scaled companies to exits earn 15-20% more
- Technical specialization: AI/ML, security, compliance expertise adds 10-20%
- Fundraising success: Led successful Series A+ rounds earns premium
- Team building: Built 50+ person engineering teams commands top rates
- Geographic location: London and tech hubs pay 10-20% more
- Company funding: Well-funded Series B+ companies pay premium
Fractional CTO vs Full-Time CTO Salary
Fractional CTOs earn more per day but work part-time:
Full-Time CTO: £150k-£250k/year (40+ hours/week)
Fractional CTO: £180k-£400k+/year (2-3 days/week across 2-3 clients)
Result: Fractional CTOs earn 20-60% more while working 40-50% of the hours, due to seniority and multiple engagement model.
How Fractional CTOs Manage Income
- Portfolio approach: 2-3 concurrent client engagements smooth out cash flow
- Retainer model: Monthly retainer + day rate for additional hours
- Project-based: Fixed fees for specific deliverables (£20k-£50k typical)
- Equity options: Many fractional CTOs take equity at 0.1-0.5% vesting
CTO Earnings Calculator
Calculate your take-home pay as a Fractional CTO. See how your day rate, working days, and IR35 status affect your earnings.