VP of Engineering Salary Guide
2025 · Technology
What VP of Engineering candidates actually expect in 2025, across company stages, locations, and equity structures.
$220K–$340K
National Base Range
$275K
Median Base Salary
$280K–$500K+
Total Comp Range
Market Overview
The VP of Engineering is one of the most competitive executive roles in the technology sector. Demand has remained high despite the 2022 to 2023 tech correction, driven by the ongoing need for engineering leadership at AI-native companies, cloud platforms, and enterprise software businesses.
Key Insights for 2025
Base salaries have stabilized at $220K–$340K nationally, with minimal movement from 2024
Total compensation (base + bonus + equity) ranges from $280K to $500K+ at Series B–D companies
Remote-first companies are paying nationally competitive rates regardless of candidate location
AI/ML engineering leadership commands a 10–20% premium over general software engineering VP roles
Equity is increasingly performance-vested rather than time-vested at growth-stage companies
Compensation by Company Stage
| Stage | Base Range | Equity | Total Comp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series A | $180K–$240K | 0.15%–0.50% | $200K–$300K |
| Series B | $220K–$290K | 0.10%–0.30% | $260K–$400K |
| Series C–D | $250K–$320K | 0.05%–0.15% | $310K–$480K |
| Pre-IPO / Public | $280K–$380K | RSUs/LTIPs | $350K–$600K+ |
Base Salary by Location
San Francisco / Bay Area
+30% vs. national
$286K–$442K
New York City
+25% vs. national
$275K–$425K
Seattle
+18% vs. national
$260K–$401K
Austin
+2% vs. national
$224K–$347K
Phoenix / Scottsdale
-3% vs. national
$213K–$330K
Remote
National baseline
$220K–$340K
Bonus Structure
15–25% target annual bonus, often tied to engineering velocity, reliability metrics, and headcount plan execution.
Key Skills at This Level
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