Annual Compensation Guides, Built From Real Search & Market Data
PE- and VC-backed companies are all asking the same question — what does leadership actually cost? Pick your market to get the answer, built from real data across Hunt Club’s active search pipeline.
How to use these guides
The bands in these compensation guides reflect base compensation only (USD). On-target earnings (OTE), variable compensation, equity, and bonuses are not included. Data is presented at the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles and represents an aggregate view of Hunt Club’s 2026 search data, combined with year-to-date market trends.
Actual compensation will vary based on industry, market dynamics, location, company stage, total rewards structure, and the individual’s experience and scope (e.g. emerging leader vs. seasoned executive). Use the following guides as a starting point to inform hiring strategy, not define it.
| Role | Startup | Early | Growth | Late | Pre-IPO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Operations Officer | $200k150k–275k | $250k200k–305k | $285k245k–340k | $330k275k–385k | $385k330k–495k |
| President (Non-CEO) | $235k200k–295k | $285k230k–360k | $285k240k–345k | $330k275k–385k | $385k330k–495k |
| VP of Operations | $235k200k–270k | $225k200k–240k | $240k215k–260k | $260k230k–275k | $280k250k–300k |
| Director of Operations | $190k165k–215k | $205k180k–230k | $190k160k–225k | $215k175k–250k | $250k225k–290k |
| Operations Manager | $125k100k–150k | $130k115k–150k | $140k125k–160k | $125k105k–140k | $135k115k–155k |