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The Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) is essential for guiding a company’s strategic initiatives. The average salary for a CSO stands at $163,192 per year, with hourly wages reaching approximately $78. This compensation can significantly differ depending on factors such as geographic location, experience, and the specific industry.
For instance, CSOs in high-demand sectors like technology and finance often command higher salaries due to the critical nature of their roles. States like California and New York are known for offering some of the highest compensation packages for this position.
When examining salaries by state, it’s apparent that location plays a vital role. States with a high cost of living or booming industries typically offer more competitive salaries. For example:
In addition to these salaries, many CSOs benefit from bonuses and stock options, enhancing their overall compensation packages. As businesses continue to navigate complex challenges, the demand for skilled strategists remains strong, presenting numerous job opportunities across various fields.
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The average chief strategy officer salary in Alaska, New York, and Colorado are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average chief strategy officer salary states are Mississippi, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $178,832 | $85.98 |
| 2 | Nevada | $165,507 | $79.57 |
| 3 | Colorado | $174,162 | $83.73 |
| 4 | Nebraska | $171,316 | $82.36 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $160,537 | $77.18 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $162,751 | $78.25 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $169,944 | $81.70 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $164,547 | $79.11 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $168,286 | $80.91 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $164,658 | $79.16 |
| 11 | Alaska | $179,039 | $86.08 |
| 12 | Virginia | $160,439 | $77.13 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $162,889 | $78.31 |
| 14 | Iowa | $158,402 | $76.15 |
| 15 | Washington | $160,831 | $77.32 |
| 16 | Texas | $158,381 | $76.14 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $164,583 | $79.13 |
| 18 | New Mexico | $150,298 | $72.26 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $156,382 | $75.18 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $150,692 | $72.45 |
| 21 | Idaho | $143,401 | $68.94 |
| 22 | Indiana | $157,109 | $75.53 |
| 23 | Alabama | $143,952 | $69.21 |
| 24 | Maine | $147,562 | $70.94 |
| 25 | Michigan | $152,979 | $73.55 |
| 26 | California | $168,029 | $80.78 |
| 27 | Arizona | $142,602 | $68.56 |
| 28 | Illinois | $146,979 | $70.66 |
| 29 | Ohio | $143,212 | $68.85 |
| 30 | Maryland | $146,071 | $70.23 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $142,622 | $68.57 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $145,672 | $70.03 |
| 33 | Massachusetts | $140,343 | $67.47 |
| 34 | Delaware | $148,258 | $71.28 |
| 35 | Missouri | $141,989 | $68.26 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $135,160 | $64.98 |
| 37 | Kansas | $139,890 | $67.25 |
| 38 | Vermont | $131,370 | $63.16 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $124,999 | $60.10 |
| 40 | Oregon | $140,914 | $67.75 |
| 41 | Utah | $140,986 | $67.78 |
| 42 | Florida | $99,942 | $48.05 |
| 43 | Georgia | $127,740 | $61.41 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $135,360 | $65.08 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $124,737 | $59.97 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $119,559 | $57.48 |
| 47 | Montana | $135,819 | $65.30 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $127,852 | $61.47 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $123,800 | $59.52 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $129,317 | $62.17 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $84,601 | $40.67 |
The highest-paying cities for chief strategy officers are Rochester, NY, San Ramon, CA, and Frisco, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester, NY | $199,154 | $95.75 |
| 2 | San Ramon, CA | $190,705 | $91.69 |
| 3 | Frisco, TX | $181,529 | $87.27 |
| 4 | New Brunswick, NJ | $176,831 | $85.01 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $174,727 | $84.00 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $172,596 | $82.98 |
| 7 | Pittsburgh, PA | $171,152 | $82.28 |
| 8 | Bellevue, WA | $170,194 | $81.82 |
| 9 | Providence, RI | $168,596 | $81.06 |
| 10 | Indianapolis, IN | $163,912 | $78.80 |
| 11 | Minneapolis, MN | $155,853 | $74.93 |
| 12 | Elk Grove Village, IL | $151,635 | $72.90 |
| 13 | Birmingham, AL | $150,977 | $72.59 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $147,557 | $70.94 |
| 15 | Saint Louis, MO | $145,433 | $69.92 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $144,115 | $69.29 |
| 17 | Amherst, MA | $142,561 | $68.54 |
| 18 | Kennesaw, GA | $131,057 | $63.01 |
| 19 | Baton Rouge, LA | $130,793 | $62.88 |
| 20 | Oklahoma City, OK | $125,541 | $60.36 |
A chief strategy officer's salary ranges from $103,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $257,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $257,000 | $21,417 | $124 |
| 75th Percentile | $207,000 | $17,250 | $100 |
| Average | $163,192 | $13,599 | $78 |
| 25th Percentile | $128,000 | $10,667 | $62 |
| 10th Percentile | $103,000 | $8,583 | $50 |
The highest paying types of chief strategy officers are vice president, strategy, director of strategy, and managing director.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner/Manager | $75,822 | $6,318 | $36.45 | 303,790 |
| Managing Director | $129,690 | $10,808 | $62.35 | 81,022 |
| Manager | $58,651 | $4,888 | $28.20 | 1,236,194 |
| General Manager | $71,581 | $5,965 | $34.41 | 442,690 |
| Service Manager | $74,009 | $6,167 | $35.58 | 341,785 |
| President/Owner | $114,992 | $9,583 | $55.28 | 83,314 |
Top companies hiring chief strategy officers now:
Chief strategy officer salaries at Norton Rose Fulbright and Sanofi US are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average chief strategy officer salary at companies like Nexius and West Tennessee Healthcare are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norton Rose Fulbright | $225,888 | $108.60 |
| 2 | Sanofi US | $221,510 | $106.50 |
| 3 | Nexius | $196,478 | $94.46 |
| 4 | West Tennessee Healthcare | $195,723 | $94.10 |
| 5 | Mediaspectrum | $191,195 | $91.92 |
| 6 | Draftfcb | $187,147 | $89.97 |
| 7 | Ascension Michigan | $186,254 | $89.55 |
| 8 | SADA | $185,021 | $88.95 |
| 9 | Nuro | $184,775 | $88.83 |
| 10 | B-Yond | $184,679 | $88.79 |
| 11 | Coates Group | $183,594 | $88.27 |
| 12 | Citi | $183,356 | $88.15 |
| 13 | Blast It | $183,207 | $88.08 |
| 14 | The Independent Traveler | $183,191 | $88.07 |
| 15 | California State Association of Counties | $183,069 | $88.01 |
| 16 | *n/a* | $183,024 | $87.99 |
| 17 | Knotel, Inc. | $182,917 | $87.94 |
| 18 | Unity Health Care | $181,958 | $87.48 |
| 19 | McKinsey & Company Inc | $181,064 | $87.05 |
| 20 | Clearpool Group | $180,478 | $86.77 |
The average chief strategy officer salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $159,121 | $76.50 |
| 2 | Government | $156,916 | $75.44 |
| 3 | Health Care | $151,759 | $72.96 |
| 4 | Hospitality | $150,062 | $72.15 |
| 5 | Professional | $144,546 | $69.49 |
The average chief strategy officer salary has risen by $13,383 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average chief strategy officer earned $149,809 annually, but today, they earn $163,192 a year. That works out to a 4% change in pay for chief strategy officers over the last decade.
Compare chief strategy officer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare chief strategy officer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $163,000 | $78.46 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $159,000 | $76.29 | -0.1% |
| 2023 | $159,000 | $76.40 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | $158,000 | $76.01 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $156,000 | $75.17 | +1.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of Colorado | Deputy Chief Strategy Officer | Boone, CO | 06/29/2025 | $105,720 |
| Thevetrecruiter.com | Chief Strategy Officer Great Lakes Area | Adrian, MI | 06/29/2025 | $100,000 |
| Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | Strategy Officer, Malaria | Seattle, WA | 06/28/2025 | $168,200 |
| Community Health Action of Staten Island | Chief Strategy Officer | New York, NY | 06/26/2025 | $125,000 |
| PG&E | Chief, Reliability & Resilience Strategy | Oakland, CA | 06/25/2025 | $178,000 |
| State Street | Officer-Client Transformation and Strategy | Quincy, MA | 06/24/2025 | $65,000 |
| Houston Area Womens Center | Chief Advancement Public Strategies Officer | Houston, TX | 06/11/2025 | $170,000 |
| Morgan Stanley | Head of Strategy for Ocio | New York, NY | 06/07/2025 | $180,000 |
| Thevetrecruiter.com | Chief Strategy Officer Great Lakes Area | Adrian, MI | 05/26/2025 | $130,000 |
| Morgan Stanley | Head of Strategy for Ocio | New York, NY | 05/24/2025 | $180,000 |
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