CTO, AI Startup.
Little Rock.
$183,000
median salary, 20% below the national average
$143,000 to $239,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Orbyt estimates CTO, AI Startup pay in Little Rock at $183,000, within a range of $143,000 to $239,000. That is 20% below the national average. Little Rock's economy is driven by Walmart's nearby headquarters ecosystem, state government, healthcare, and logistics. 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.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for CTO, AI Startup in Little Rock, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. BLS does not publish this occupation for this metro area, so the national published benchmark is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $213,990 for Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) across the United States, based on 204,350 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$75,700
25th percentile
$129,540
Median
$213,990
75th percentile
$356,200
90th percentile
$507,730
Workers surveyed
204,350
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$206,420
May 2025 release
$213,990
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
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 CTO, AI Startup specifically. The national 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 11-1011Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $165,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$119,000
to $146,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$156,000
to $192,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$201,000
to $238,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$229,000
to $284,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $51,000 to the total package.
Base
$183,000
Equity
$29,000
Bonus
$18,000
Signing
$4,000
Estimated total: $234,000
How Little Rock compares.
Little Rock, AR
$183,000
Cost of living: 18% below average
National Average
$230,000
Little Rock is $47,000 below
CTO, AI Startup salary by city.
Salary by role in Little Rock.
What you should know.
If you are interviewing for CTO, AI Startup roles in Little Rock, here is what you are walking into. Little Rock's economy is driven by Walmart's nearby headquarters ecosystem, state government, healthcare, and logistics. The metro's extremely low cost of living means even moderate salaries deliver strong purchasing power. Tech jobs are growing as companies seek affordable alternatives to major metros. Base salary is influenced by funding stage, company size, and the CTO's equity stake. Early-stage CTOs may accept lower base salary in exchange for larger equity. Series B+ CTOs with proven track records command both high base salaries and meaningful equity. Technical depth in AI architecture and ability to recruit top talent are the primary differentiators.
Pre-seed and seed CTOs earn $120,000 to $180,000 base with significant equity. Series A CTOs earn $180,000 to $230,000. Series B+ CTOs reach $230,000 to $320,000 base. Successful exits can generate life-changing wealth through equity. Some transition to CEO roles or become serial technical cofounders. In Little Rock, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 18% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity is the most significant component, often representing 1% to 5% of the company at founding, decreasing with later-stage hiring. At funded startups, this can be worth $500,000 to several million dollars annually on paper. Base salary increases substantially after Series B as the company can afford market rates. And on the tax side: arkansas has a top income tax rate of 4.4%. Little Rock has no city income tax. The combination of low taxes and very affordable housing creates one of the best net pay environments in the country. When someone quotes you $183,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Reference the Walmart and Tyson ecosystem when negotiating. Northwest Arkansas and Little Rock employers benchmark against national corporate pay scales. The range for CTO, AI Startups in Little Rock runs from $143,000 to $239,000. 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
Considering a related role?
- An AI Trading Strategist in Little Rock earns $185,000 (1% more)
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- See all ai executive roles tracked in Orbyt Intelligence
Common questions.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"CTO, AI Startup Salary in Little Rock, AR." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/cto-ai-startup/little-rock
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