SMALL COMPANY CEO SALARY GUIDE

Small Company CEO Salaries

Explore executive compensation in the small business sector with our in-depth Small Company CEO Salary Guide.

Designed for business owners, boards, investors, and recruiters, this guide offers valuable insights into small company CEO salaries across the United States and beyond.

The Small Company CEO Salary Guide provides a detailed breakdown of average CEO compensation based on company size, ownership structure (private, founder-led, investor-backed), and annual revenue.

Why use our Small Business CEO Salary Guide?

Our executive recruitment network spans thousands of small business leaders, enhanced by verified salary data sourced from CEO placements, self-reported figures, and investor networks.

This unique methodology ensures our Small Company CEO Salary Guide is the most relevant and industry-specific source for compensation benchmarks.

This isn’t a generic dataset. Our data is grounded in real-world feedback from small company CEOs, founders, investors, and board members, allowing you to make informed decisions whether you’re hiring a new CEO or reviewing an existing compensation package.

How do we ensure accuracy?

We maintain one of the most comprehensive CEO databases in North America, with a strong focus on small businesses across industries, from tech startups and family-run manufacturers to service providers and DTC brands.

Our guide includes not just base salary, but also insights into equity stakes, profit-sharing models, and non-cash benefits commonly seen in small businesses.

Average Small Company CEO Salary by Size & Revenue

Small company CEO salaries vary widely depending on several key factors:

• Company Size: A CEO leading a 10-person team will typically earn less than one managing a 100-person business, even within the small business bracket.
• Annual Revenue: Our data shows that small company CEO salary levels increase with revenue, with key breakpoints typically under $5M, $5–10M, and $10–50M annual turnover.
• Ownership Model: Founder-owners often take modest salaries in early growth phases, while investor-backed CEOs may receive higher base pay, combined with performance-based incentives and equity.
• Industry Type: Tech and finance startups tend to pay higher CEO compensation packages than retail, hospitality, or traditional trades at the same revenue levels.

In addition to base salaries, small company CEOs often receive equity options, revenue-based bonuses, or long-term incentive plans, especially in private equity or venture-backed settings.

Our guide helps you understand how all these components fit together to form total compensation.

Small Company CEO Salary by Region & Sector

CEO pay is also influenced by location and sector. High-cost markets like San Francisco, New York, and Boston tend to offer higher CEO salaries due to the competitive business environment and elevated living costs.

Use this section to:

• Benchmark small business CEO salaries by region
• Assess how local conditions affect CEO pay expectations
• Create attractive, market-aligned CEO compensation offers

Our guide includes detailed regional salary data, helping you stay competitive in attracting and retaining top leadership talent.

Included in our Small Company CEO Salary Guide:

• Average small company CEO salary
• Compensation ranges by headcount and revenue tier
• Salary differences based on ownership and funding models
• Equity and bonus structures for small business CEOs
• Regional salary comparisons across the U.S.
• CEO pay trends across small business sectors

Download your Small Company CEO Salary Guide today.