Typical Fractional CMO Salary
Fractional CMO Salary Range
A Fractional CMO provides the skills and expertise of a full-time CMO for a fraction of the cost. They offer value in the form of less risk and greater impact on your marketing programs, meaning they allow you to quickly adapt your marketing initiatives and implementation to bring your product or service to market fast. They’ll direct your marketing, lead your team, and perform the daily activities of a full-time CMO based on a rough hourly rate and agreement.
Some may work held on retainer for a certain amount of hours per month. For example, if a fractional CMO comes on as a retainer for $8,000 and 40 hours per month, that works out to $96,000 a year for just one client.
If you’re looking to advance your career and becoming a fractional CMO is an attractive option, sign up for the CMOx Accelerator to take the first steps in developing the skills to find success as a part-time CMO.
Key Takeaways
- Fractional CMOs typically charge an hourly rate between $200 and $350.
- The average full-time CMO salary is roughly $174,000.
- The salary for a fractional CMO varies depending on how much they work per month.
Fractional CMO Hourly Rates
In our experience, a fractional CMO charges an hourly rate between $200-$350 per hour for their services. This means their average salary varies depending both on their rate and the number of hours they’re hired on for. For example, a fractional CMO who charges $250 per hour and works for a client for 40 hours in a month, they’d have an annual salary of $120,000 from that client alone.
For the best results, hire a fractional CMO on a retainer and clearly outline their time and establish what the cost will be. Unlike a full-time CMO, fractional CMO costs are not ongoing expenses. You can hire a fractional CMO or CMO for hire at your convenience, so consider your needs when determining how many hours they need.
Average Full-Time CMO Salary
In some businesses, a full-time CMO’s salary can be upwards of $400K a year, and often ranges between $100K and over $400K depending on experience. According to Glassdoor.com, the national average is around $179,000. The cost for a CMO varies depending on the level of expertise they have or the company they work at. You should also consider that in addition to the hefty salaries, a full-time CMO position more than likely comes with benefits which the company pays for.
How to Identify Great Fit Fractional CMO Clients
- What size marketing department your ideal client needs to have
- The secret of low-stress client services
- What prospective clients can be a home-run for you (and who you should steer clear of!)
- Strategies to evaluate start-ups and nonprofits
- How to protect your reputation
Full-time Chief Marketing Officer vs Fractional CMO Salaries
When considering a year of work for both options, ask which model works best for your needs. Ideally, smaller companies with dedicated marketing departments should be allocating around $7,000 to $9,000 toward a fractional CMO. The math shows that a fractional CMO would cost in the range of $84,000 at $7,000 per month. Compared to the $174,000 national average for the full-time position, this is much easier for smaller companies to justify.
What a Fractional CMO Brings to a Business
A Fractional CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) is an external marketing executive companies can hire in place of a full-time CMO. Fractional CMOs are experienced in their field and bring expertise in leading branding and/or marketing strategies, sales development, quarterly planning, and general leadership.
Hiring a fractional CMO is great for smaller businesses and businesses that are in desperate need of outside support of their marketing efforts. If you’re interested in learning more about the specifics of hiring a fractional CMO, click here.
Choosing the Right CMO for Your Business
Fractional Chief Marketing Officers offer all the benefits of a full-time CMO at a fraction of the cost. Some businesses don’t need a full-time CMO, and the majority of the goals can be accomplished in just a few hours per week. If you are a smaller company and recognize the need for strong leadership in your marketing team, then a fractional CMO is the best option. Even in situations when your business likely needs a full-time Chief Marketing Officer, a fractional CMO can bring your marketing department up to speed and ready for the transition.
How CMOx Helps Your Business
At CMOx, we streamline the process of getting your marketing leadership up to proficient levels. We bring with us the expertise you need to develop long-term marketing campaigns, bring in new employees, increase sales, and lead your team toward sustainable growth.
If you’re interested in learning more about the fractional CMO services we offer, contact us today for a free consultation at (219) 804-0797 or fill out a contact request form here.
