Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Chief Design Officer in California is $192,806 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $93.
However, a Chief Design Officer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
AI Onboarding
Chief Design Officer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $238,406 | $19,867 | $4,585 | $115 |
| Average | $192,806 | $16,067 | $3,708 | $93 |
| 25th Percentile | $155,418 | $12,952 | $2,989 | $75 |
Confidential - San Francisco, CA
Confidential - San Diego, CA
Confidential - Los Angeles, CA
Confidential - San Jose, CA
A Chief Design Officer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Chief Design Officers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
Understanding how a Chief Design Officer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $238,406 | $19,867 | $4,585 | $115 |
| Average | $192,806 | $16,067 | $3,708 | $93 |
| 25th Percentile | $155,418 | $12,952 | $2,989 | $75 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Chief Design Officer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Confidential
San Francisco, CA
Confidential | San Francisco, CA
Chief of Staff to the Chief Client Officer (CCO). About the Company. Innovative B2B market research platform specializing in expert calls & surveys. Indust... more
11 Days Ago
Confidential
San Francisco, CA
Confidential | San Francisco, CA
Chief of Staff to Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). About the Company. Leading provider of web security management & solutions. Industry. Computer & Network Se... more
28 Days Ago
Confidential
Los Angeles, CA
Confidential | Los Angeles, CA
Chief of Staff to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO). About the Company. Rapid-growing space company. Industry. Defense & Space. Type. Privately Held, VC-b... more
1 Month Ago
Confidential
Bakersfield, CA
Confidential | Bakersfield, CA
Chief Financial Officer (CFO). About the Company. Growth-oriented consumer products company in distribution, retail, and e-commerce. Industry. Consumer Goo... more
8 Days Ago
Confidential
San Diego, CA
Confidential | San Diego, CA
Chief Product & Technology Officer. About the Company. Rapid-growing software company specializing in M&A & growth services. Industry. Computer Software. T... more
18 Days Ago
Confidential
San Francisco, CA
Confidential | San Francisco, CA
Chief Operating Officer (COO). About the Company. Pioneering independent publisher with a rich family heritage. Industry. Publishing. Type. Privately Held.... more
1 Month Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
