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CFO.

Austin.

$260,000

median salary, at the national average

$195,000 to $345,000. Last updated August 2026.

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Data points to own the conversation.

The median CFO salary in Austin is $260,000, right at the national average. Entry level starts near $195,000. Experienced professionals push past $345,000. Austin has transformed into one of America's fastest growing tech hubs, attracting relocations from Apple, Tesla, Oracle, and Samsung. That spread is your negotiation window. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.

Salary range.

25th Percentile

$195,000

per year

Median

$260,000

per year

75th Percentile

$345,000

per year

Where do you fall?

$195,000$345,000

Orbyt estimate for CFO in Austin, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.

Government benchmark for this occupation

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $288,150 for Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metropolitan area, based on 950 employed workers (May 2025 release).

10th percentile

$126,800

25th percentile

$174,990

Median

$288,150

75th percentile

$407,210

90th percentile

$647,020

Workers surveyed

950

BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) rather than CFO specifically. The Austin range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.

View the BLS source for SOC 11-1011

Salary by experience.

The gap between entry and lead level is typically $234,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.

Entry (0-2 yrs)

$169,000

to $208,000

Mid (3-5 yrs)

$221,000

to $273,000

Senior (6-9 yrs)

$286,000

to $338,000

Lead (10+ yrs)

$325,000

to $403,000

Total compensation.

Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $69,000 to the total package.

Base

$260,000

Equity

$39,000

Bonus

$25,000

Signing

$5,000

Estimated total: $329,000

How Austin compares.

Austin, TX

$260,000

Cost of living: 3% above average

National Average

$260,000

Same as local rate

CFO salary by city.

CFO salary comparison across 10 cities
CityMedianRangeCOLAdjusted
San Francisco, CA$358,000$269,000 to $475,0001.35x$265,000
San Jose, CA$344,000$258,000 to $457,0001.38x$249,000
Honolulu, HI$341,000$256,000 to $453,0001.30x$262,000
New York, NY$339,000$255,000 to $450,0001.28x$265,000
Washington DC, DC$338,000$254,000 to $449,0001.25x$270,000
Seattle, WA$326,000$244,000 to $432,0001.24x$263,000
Boston, MA$311,000$233,000 to $412,0001.22x$255,000
Los Angeles, CA$310,000$232,000 to $411,0001.18x$263,000
San Diego, CA$310,000$233,000 to $412,0001.17x$265,000
Austin, TX$260,000$195,000 to $345,0001.03x$252,000

See all 81 cities for CFO →

Salary by role in Austin.

Salary comparison by role in Austin
RoleMedianRange
CTO$318,000$248,000 to $414,000
CEO$289,000$210,000 to $399,000
General Counsel$288,000$225,000 to $375,000
CFO$260,000$195,000 to $345,000
IC6 Engineer$247,000$193,000 to $321,000
CTO, AI Startup$237,000$185,000 to $309,000
AI Trading Strategist$235,000$183,000 to $305,000
AI Risk Analytics Engineer$230,000$180,000 to $300,000

What you should know.

If you are interviewing for CFO roles in Austin, here is what you are walking into. Austin has transformed into one of America's fastest growing tech hubs, attracting relocations from Apple, Tesla, Oracle, and Samsung. The city's combination of no state income tax, a vibrant startup scene, and a strong university pipeline makes it highly competitive. Salaries have risen sharply over the past five years, narrowing the gap with coastal cities. Company size measured by revenue and market capitalization drives the widest pay variation among CFOs. Fortune 500 CFOs earn three to five times more than mid-market counterparts. Industry also matters, with technology, financial services, and pharmaceutical CFOs commanding the highest packages. IPO and M&A transaction experience adds further premium.

VP of Finance roles pay $180,000 to $260,000 in base salary. CFOs at small companies ($10 million to $50 million revenue) earn $175,000 to $250,000. Mid-market CFOs ($50 million to $500 million) earn $250,000 to $400,000. Enterprise CFOs at $1 billion or more revenue companies command $400,000 to $800,000 base. In Austin, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.

Base salary is not the full picture. CFO total compensation far exceeds base salary. Annual bonuses of 40 to 75% of base, equity grants worth $200,000 to $2 million or more at public companies, and long-term incentive plans are standard. Total compensation at large companies commonly reaches $800,000 to $5 million. And on the tax side: texas has no state income tax, which can mean 5 to 10% more take home pay compared to California roles. Property taxes are above average, however, running about 1.8% of home value. When someone quotes you $260,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Use the no income tax advantage as a negotiation lever. Ask employers to match 90% of a Bay Area offer and show that your net pay will actually be higher. The range for CFOs in Austin runs from $195,000 to $345,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology

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$

25th

$195,000

Median

$260,000

75th

$345,000

Considering a related role?

  • An IC6 Engineer in Austin earns $247,000 (5% less)
  • The highest-paying role in Austin is CTO at $318,000

Common questions.

Company revenue is the strongest predictor of CFO pay. CFOs at companies with $50 million revenue earn approximately $200,000 to $300,000 total. At $500 million revenue, total compensation reaches $500,000 to $800,000. At $5 billion or more, CFO total packages commonly exceed $2 million to $5 million.

The highest-paid CFOs typically combine Big Four public accounting experience with investment banking or corporate development backgrounds. IPO experience, capital markets expertise, and board-level communication skills command the largest premiums. An MBA from a top program is nearly universal among Fortune 500 CFOs.

CFO compensation in Austin has trended upward as demand outpaces supply. The 2026 range of $195,000 to $345,000 reflects a market that rewards specialization. Company size measured by revenue and market capitalization drives the widest pay variation among CFOs.

CFO total compensation far exceeds base salary. Annual bonuses of 40 to 75% of base, equity grants worth $200,000 to $2 million or more at public companies, and long-term incentive plans are standard. Total compensation at large companies commonly reaches $800,000 to $5 million. In Austin's market, the base range of $195,000 to $345,000 is just the starting point for negotiation.

Company size measured by revenue and market capitalization drives the widest pay variation among CFOs. Fortune 500 CFOs earn three to five times more than mid-market counterparts. Industry also matters, with technology, financial services, and pharmaceutical CFOs commanding the highest packages. IPO and M&A transaction experience adds further premium. In Austin, these factors can push compensation from $195,000 to $345,000 or beyond.

CFO salary in other cities.

Other salaries in Austin.

Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to CFOs in Austin.

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"CFO Salary in Austin, TX." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/cfo/austin

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