Technical Co-Founder Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$140,000
national median salary
$109,000 to $182,000. Last updated August 2026.
Orbyt prices 4 titles at this same figure: Web Performance Engineer, Technical Co-Founder, Senior UI/UX Designer, and AI Agent Designer. Orbyt does not hold title-level wage data that would separate them.
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.
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $140,000 is 35% lower than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Chief Executives covers a different population than the Technical Co-Founder title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.
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 Technical Co-Founderspecifically. 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 11-1011Highest Paying
$197,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$146,000
Reno, NV
Lowest Paying
$106,000
Jackson, MS
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 11-1011. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Technical Co-Founder salary in the United States at $140,000 in 2026, within a range of $109,000 to $182,000. 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. This figure is not specific to this title: Orbyt prices 4 titles at the same estimate. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $197,000, while Reno offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Technical Co-Founder compensation is driven by years of experience, specialization depth, and the industry domain.
Technical Co-Founder salary by city.
Skills that increase Technical Co-Founder pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Technical Co-Founders based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $19,600 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$19,600 per year
≈ +$18,200 per year
≈ +$16,800 per year
≈ +$15,400 per year
≈ +$15,400 per year
≈ +$14,000 per year
≈ +$14,000 per year
≈ +$12,600 per year
What you should know.
Technical Co-Founder compensation is driven by years of experience, specialization depth, and the industry domain. Base salary carries most of the total compensation, with bonuses adding roughly 8% in a typical year. At the mid-management level, the scope of the organization under management ($10M budget vs $100M+) drives the largest compensation variance.
Technical Co-Founders progress from entry to senior over 5 to 8 years, with lead and management levels requiring 10+ years and demonstrated cross-functional scope.
Total compensation for Technical Co-Founders runs roughly $151K at median when factoring base + typical bonus (~8% of base). Base salary carries most of the compensation; benefits (healthcare, 401(k) match, PTO) add an estimated 15–25% in imputed value on top. At management levels, variable compensation (bonus + LTIP) grows as a share of total — expect 30–50% variable at director and 50%+ variable at VP and above.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Technical Co-Founders typically earn $126,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Technical Co-Founder pay.
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