How We Got Here:
Leadership in tech has never been more complex.
Shifting markets, leaner teams, new demands on product and engineering leaders, and the growing challenge of keeping top talent engaged and motivated.
That is why CTO Craft, in partnership with Albany Partners, has once again gone out to the community to understand what all of this means for leadership pay, equity and retention in 2025.
Why this report matters:
This is the third year we have published the CTO Compensation Report, and it feels more important than ever.
In today’s market, having access to real data is essential. Without it, businesses risk falling behind on what it takes to attract and retain senior tech leaders, and leaders themselves are left in the dark about what they are worth.
This report aims to cut through that uncertainty with data sourced directly from the CTO Craft community, one of the largest peer networks for tech leaders in Europe.
About Albany Partners:
We are proud to once again partner with Albany Partners on this report.
Albany Partners is a specialist executive search firm with deep experience in helping high-growth tech companies build their leadership teams. They work across the UK, Europe and the US, partnering with VC and private equity-backed businesses, as well as global tech brands.
Their insight into what is happening on the ground in executive hiring brings valuable depth and context to this year’s findings.
The data behind the report:
The 2025 survey collected responses from 600 tech leaders across the UK, Europe and North America. Participants came from a range of businesses, including VC-backed startups, private equity portfolio companies and listed firms.
To ensure data quality, outliers and non-leadership roles were removed. Due to lower response volumes, VP Engineering roles were grouped with C-level responses to maintain statistical significance. Geographic analysis focused on the US, UK and Europe, where response rates were highest.
The report explores:
- Salary benchmarks across regions and company stages
- Equity and bonus trends
- What really drives retention and attrition
- The impact of location on compensation
- The growing role of flexibility and work-life balance
The findings provide a clear view of the pressures and priorities shaping tech leadership today.
