What would a fractional CTO cost you?

Compare a fractional CTO against a full-time hire with your own numbers. Works for the US and Canada, with SR&ED built in for Canadian teams. No email required.

Your scenario

Canada

United States

Compare against

CTO on Tap Advisory retainer $33K/yr Fractional CTO Embedded leadership $144K/yr Interim CTO The full CTO function $180K/yr

Full-time CTO fully-loaded cost

$400,000/yr

Base + payroll taxes + benefits + equity. Typical range $300,000–$700,000.

Add a full-stack developer

Pair the fractional CTO with a developer to ship the roadmap — strategy and execution.

Your estimate

You save $256,000/yr $21,333/mo · vs one full-time CTO

Full-time CTO (loaded) $400,000/yr
Your scenario $144,000/yr

Fractional CTO: $12,000/mo · $144,000/yr
Full-time CTO (loaded): $33,333/mo · $400,000/yr

These figures are estimates for planning only — not a binding quote. Actual pricing is scoped to your engagement. Costs vary with scope and market — not financial advice.

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A fractional CTO and a developer — for less than one full-time CTO

At a startup or SMB, a full-time CTO often spends roughly 80% of their time on hands-on development and only 20% on strategy — CTO pay for work a developer can do. For less than that single salary, a fractional CTO can own strategy and architecture while a dedicated full-stack developer ships the roadmap: the right person on each job, not one expensive generalist stretched across both.

$2,000 · ~2 weeks · credited on month 3

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