How much does a fractional CTO cost?
The real numbers: what the US market charges, what moves the price, and what I charge. No "book a call to find out." I publish my pricing so you can self-qualify before we ever talk.
Roughly $8K–$30K a month, depending on time and seniority.
In the US market, a senior fractional CTO typically charges $200–$400 an hour, which works out to roughly $8,000–$30,000 a month depending on how many days a week you need and how senior the person is. Cheaper exists. So does more expensive. Below that band you're usually buying an architect or a coach wearing the title; above it you're paying a firm's margin.
My own numbers are published: $10,000 a month for advisory at about a day a week, $18,000 a month for the full fractional engagement at about two days, and $30,000 a month embedded at three or more. A fixed-fee Diagnostic starts at $20,000 and is the best first step.
For comparison: a full-time CTO at a $10M–$50M company runs $400K–$750K a year all-in once salary, bonus, equity and benefits are counted, and the search alone takes three to six months. A fractional CTO gives you 60–80% of that value for a fraction of the cost, starting within the first month.
Related searches: fractional CTO rates, fractional CTO pricing, part-time CTO cost, CTO-as-a-Service pricing.
Why quotes vary so much.
Time commitment
One day a week is advisory. Two is real leadership. Three or more is an executive in the seat. Most of the price is here.
Hands-on vs advisory
Someone who reviews decks costs less than someone who makes the calls, hires the team, and owns delivery. You usually need the second kind.
Scope & stakes
A stable team needing direction costs less than a turnaround, a compliance push, or an AI-native rebuild with the board watching.
Seniority & track record
A CTO who has done it thirty times pattern-matches your problem in week one. That compresses the timeline, which is where the savings actually live.
Direct vs firm
Marketplaces and firms add an account manager and a margin between you and the person doing the work. Direct is cheaper and faster.
Engagement length
Most real engagements run 6–18 months. Anything priced per-hour with no end state is a meter running, not a plan.
What I charge, exactly.
The same tiers published on the Fractional CTO page. All prices USD.
The Diagnostic
The Business-Down read on system, org, spend and AI leverage, plus a 90-day plan you can act on with or without me. The best first step.
Advisory
Senior judgment on direction, architecture, hiring and roadmap. For teams that can execute but need the calls made right.
Fractional CTO
The full method, running. I set direction, build and hire the team, and own delivery — hands-on. Most engagements run 6–18 months.
Embedded / Interim CTO
Near-full-time leadership in the seat — for turnarounds, transitions, or covering the CTO role until the permanent hire lands.
Prefer a fixed scope? AI-Native Roadmap & Architecture sprints from $35K, PE technical due diligence from $15K/deal. Email me ↗
What people ask about price.
How much does a fractional CTO cost per month?
In the US market, roughly $8,000–$30,000 a month depending on days per week and seniority. My published tiers are $10,000 a month for advisory (~1 day a week), $18,000 a month for the full fractional engagement (~2 days), and $30,000 a month embedded (3+ days). All prices USD.
What do fractional CTOs charge per hour?
Senior US fractional CTOs typically charge $200–$400 an hour. I don't bill hourly; I price by monthly commitment tier or fixed scope, because the value is in owning outcomes over months, not in metered hours.
How does a fractional CTO compare to a full-time CTO on cost?
A full-time CTO at a $10M–$50M company costs $400K–$750K a year all-in, plus a three-to-six-month search and ramp. A fractional CTO at $18,000 a month is $216K a year, starts within weeks, and scales down when the need does. You get 60–80% of the value at a fraction of the cost and none of the severance risk.
Is a fractional CTO worth the cost?
It depends on the stakes. If delivery is stalling, technical debt is compounding, or you're facing a raise, a sale, or an AI rebuild without senior technology judgment, the cost of not having a CTO is usually a multiple of the fee. If your team just needs occasional code review, hire a consultant instead. The fixed-fee Diagnostic exists so you can find out for $20,000 which one you are.
Are there hidden costs?
No. My pricing is published and all-in: no recruiting fee, no equity ask by default, no firm margin, no account manager. You pay the monthly tier or the fixed scope, under a standard consulting agreement.
Related reading & paths.
Fractional CTO services
The engagement itself: what I actually do, how I work, and the method behind it.
What is a fractional CTO?
The plain-English explainer: what the role is and when you actually need one.
Fractional vs full-time vs interim
Which kind of technology leadership your company actually needs right now.
Want the number for
your situation?
Tell me what's not scaling and how much time it needs. I'll give you a straight answer, including "you don't need me."