How the cMO cost calculator works
The full-time cost starts from the base salary and adds any bonus. It then grosses that up for benefits and employer costs. In US private industry, wages are about 70% of total employer costs, so benefits start at 30%.2
The default base is the median US CMO salary of $374,414.1 The fractional side is the monthly retainer times twelve, starting at Go Fractional's 2026 average of $12,000 a month.3
Recruiting is a one-off, so it's spread over the years you compare. Tick the marketing manager box to price a common pairing: a fractional CMO above a full-time manager, at the US median of $166,790.4
Questions people ask
How much does a fractional CMO cost?
Marketplace guides put most retainers between $3,000 and $20,000 a month in 2026. That's $36,000 to $240,000 a year.
How much does a full-time CMO really cost?
The median US CMO base salary is about $374,000. If benefits and employer costs are 30% of the total, that's about $535,000 a year before bonus, equity or search fees.
Is a fractional CMO always cheaper?
Per year, almost always. A fractional CMO also works fewer days. Compare the cost with how much senior time you actually need.
Where do the default numbers come from?
Salary.com for the CMO median, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics for benefits and the marketing manager wage, and Go Fractional for the average retainer. The sources are listed on this page.