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Startup CEO Salaries 2026: Data for VC-Backed Founders

Kruze Consulting · kruzeconsulting.com Free Beginner

An accounting firm's 2026 report from anonymised payroll data across its VC-backed US clients: average CEO salary $165,000, with $153,000 at seed, $203,000 at Series A and $216,000 at Series B.

  • Average VC-backed US CEO salary is $165,000 in 2026.
  • Seed-stage CEOs average $153,000; Series A $203,000.
  • Treat these as a US ceiling, not an Indian benchmark.
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Curated reading that points you to the sources, not personalised investment advice.

The question it answers

  1. How much should I pay myself as a founder?

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