Top technology leaders at US companies are getting bigger paychecks as AI expands the scope of their leadership and responsibilities. The median pay for CTOs rose 30.81% in 2024 from the previous year, to approximately $2.4m, according to C-Suite Comp, an executive and board pay analytics firm. A separate report from Heller Search Associates found that base compensation for CIOs is rising by 20%-30%. “The reason total compensation is rising is because fear, uncertainty, doubt and desperation has entered the board and executive suite,” said chief executive Martha Heller. “They finally, with a push in AI, understand that this CIO role is important.” “Technology leaders have wised up,” said Alyse Egol, a senior client partner of Korn Ferry’s digital, technology and security officers practice. “They’re saying, ‘My value is above and beyond just keeping the machine running.’”
