$191,521 base salary
Average full-time CMO base salary, per Payscale (July 2026), compiled by Mega Web Vision.
Cost and pricing
Published by Beltway MediaLast updated November 2026
Fractional CCO cost: 2026 pricing benchmarks
Beltway Media does not publish fractional CCO pricing, but published 2026 benchmarks for fractional executives range from about $2,000 to $15,000 or more per month, depending on hours and scope.
Because public figures for fractional chief communications officers are scarce, this page uses the closest published benchmarks, mostly for fractional CMOs, with their sources. Beltway Media scopes each engagement during a free consultation, so treat these numbers as market context for budgeting, not as a quote.
Book a free consultationHow much does a fractional chief communications officer cost?
| Tier | Hours | Published monthly range | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light, mostly remote | 5 to 20 hours | $2,000 to $6,000 | Engenius Web |
| Core leadership | 20 to 40 hours, may include onsite | $7,000 to $15,000 | Engenius Web |
| Expanded leadership | Large teams and budgets | $15,000 and up | Engenius Web |
| Advisory | On call | $2,000 to $4,500 | Data-Mania |
| Typical fractional CMO | Varies | $5,000 to $20,000 | Data-Mania |
What does a full-time executive really cost?
About 30% for benefits
Benefits add about 30% of employer cost across private industry, and an executive search adds a fee and about six weeks (Mega Web Vision).
$480K to $615K all in
Estimated first-year all-in cost of a full-time CMO, versus $60K to $180K for a fractional engagement, per Jolly Marketer's analysis cited by Digital Applied.
What raises or lowers the price?
Hours are the biggest driver. Published ranges rise as engagements move from 5 to 20 hours toward 20 to 40, and again when the role adds onsite meetings or manages large teams and budgets. Beyond hours, scope matters: the number of audiences and channels, crisis preparedness work, media training and how much hands-on media relations the engagement includes.
Hourly billing exists too. Engenius Web notes some fractional leaders charge $150 to $400 per hour, and Mega Web Vision reports a fractional CMO average of $174 an hour, scoped at about 15 hours a week (Go Fractional, October 2026). Most providers still prefer a flat monthly retainer.
Worksheet: full-time vs fractional annual cost
Enter a full-time salary and a monthly fractional quote to compare annual cost. Defaults use the published figures above. This is an estimate, not a financial decision.
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Enter a valid salary, benefits percentage and monthly retainer to see the comparison.
Assumptions: full-time cost includes base salary and benefits only, and excludes search fees, bonuses, equity and onboarding time. Fractional cost assumes the same retainer for 12 months. This is an estimate, not a financial decision or a Beltway Media quote.
When a fractional CCO is not the cheapest choice
If you only need one press release, one event or one campaign, a project-based vendor will cost less. If your organization needs a full-time executive on site every day, a full-time hire may give better value despite the higher cost. Compare all options in fractional vs full-time CCO, ranked.
Common questions
How much does a fractional chief communications officer cost?
Beltway Media does not publish fractional CCO pricing; scope is set during a free consultation. Public benchmarks exist for the closely related fractional CMO role: Engenius Web lists $2,000 to $6,000 per month for 5 to 20 hours, $7,000 to $15,000 per month for 20 to 40 hours, and $15,000 and up for more involved leadership.
More in the FAQ: How much does a fractional chief communications officer cost?How much does a fractional CMO cost per month?
Published 2026 ranges vary by scope. Engenius Web lists $2,000 to $6,000 per month for 5 to 20 hours of mostly remote work and $7,000 to $15,000 per month for 20 to 40 hours. Data-Mania puts the typical range at $5,000 to $20,000 a month. These are market figures for fractional CMOs, not Beltway Media prices.
More in the FAQ: How much does a fractional CMO cost per month?How much does a fractional CMO make?
A fractional CMO averages $174 an hour, scoped at about 15 hours a week, according to Go Fractional data from October 2026 as compiled by Mega Web Vision. Engenius Web reports that some fractional leaders charge between $150 and $400 per hour, while most prefer a flat monthly retainer tied to expected involvement.
More in the FAQ: How much does a fractional CMO make?What is a typical CMO salary?
A full-time CMO has an average base salary of $191,521, according to Payscale data from July 2026 compiled by Mega Web Vision. Base salary is not the whole bill: benefits add about 30 percent of employer cost across private industry, and an executive search adds a fee and about six weeks.
More in the FAQ: What is a typical CMO salary?What raises or lowers the cost of fractional communications leadership?
Hours and scope drive cost most. Published ranges climb as hours rise from 5 to 20 toward 20 to 40, and as the role takes on onsite meetings, large teams or budgets, according to Engenius Web. Crisis preparedness work, media training, the number of audiences and the number of channels covered also shape the size of an engagement.
More in the FAQ: What raises or lowers the cost of fractional communications leadership?Does Beltway Media publish its fractional CCO prices?
No. Beltway Media's pricing is not posted publicly. Its process starts with a free discovery call about your challenges, goals and current capabilities, followed by a custom strategy, because hours, channels and deliverables differ widely between a growing company, a trade association and a public affairs team. Ask for pricing directly during the free consultation.
More in the FAQ: Does Beltway Media publish its fractional CCO prices?Get a scoped fractional CCO proposal
Start with a free discovery call about your communications challenges, goals and current capabilities. Beltway Media scopes every fractional CCO engagement to what your organization actually needs.
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