Side by side
Salary bands are United States, cybersecurity sector, at a Series B baseline. They shift with stage and geography, and they are directional, for scoping a description or a target range rather than making or accepting an offer.
| Chief Marketing Officer | VP of Marketing | |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Executive | Vice president |
| Core question the role answers | Who is the market, what do they need to hear, and how do we reach them at scale in a way that compounds. | How do we build a repeatable demand engine and a message the sales team can actually carry. |
| Owns | Positioning, messaging and category narrative. Marketing budget allocation and channel mix. Pipeline contribution target and the model behind it. Brand equity and long arc market perception. | Demand generation strategy and channel execution. Messaging and content across the funnel. Marketing team management and program budget. Website, campaigns and marketing technology stack. |
| Explicitly does not own | Closing individual deals or carrying a quota. CRM architecture and forecast integrity. Hand building enrichment tables or outbound automation. | Quota carrying and deal negotiation. Board level category strategy at a large company where a CMO exists. Sales team hiring and territory design. |
| Base salary band | $230,000 to $340,000 base | $198,000 to $272,000 base |
| Variable | 25% variable | 20% variable |
| Equity | Typically 0.4 to 1.2 percent at Series B, lower and cash heavier by Series D. | Commonly 0.2 to 0.6 percent at Series B, trending lower at later stages. |
Where the line actually falls
Chief Marketing Officer, seen from the VP of Marketing seat
A CMO carries board and category level accountability and typically builds the org. A VP of Marketing runs the function. Below roughly $40 million in ARR the two are often the same job with different price tags, and the title choice is mostly about what signal the company wants to send to candidates and investors.
VP of Marketing, seen from the Chief Marketing Officer seat
Scope and altitude. A VP of Marketing runs the function. A CMO is expected to define the category and answer to the board for it. At companies under $40 million in ARR the work overlaps heavily.
Common questions
Should we hire a CMO or a VP of Marketing?
Hire a VP of Marketing when you need the function run well and the strategy is already reasonably settled. Hire a CMO when you need someone to define the category, carry it to the board, and build the org underneath them. Below roughly $40 million in ARR the two jobs overlap heavily and the title is mostly a signal to candidates and investors. Above that line the difference is real, and the most common expensive mistake is paying a VP band for CMO scope.
How is a Chief Marketing Officer different from a VP of Marketing?
A CMO carries board and category level accountability and typically builds the org. A VP of Marketing runs the function. Below roughly $40 million in ARR the two are often the same job with different price tags, and the title choice is mostly about what signal the company wants to send to candidates and investors.
How is a VP of Marketing different from a Chief Marketing Officer?
Scope and altitude. A VP of Marketing runs the function. A CMO is expected to define the category and answer to the board for it. At companies under $40 million in ARR the work overlaps heavily.
Which pays more, a Chief Marketing Officer or a VP of Marketing?
Chief Marketing Officer roles benchmark at $230,000 to $340,000 base with roughly 25 percent variable. VP of Marketing roles benchmark at $198,000 to $272,000 base with roughly 20 percent variable. Both figures are United States, cybersecurity sector, at a Series B baseline, and shift with stage and geography. Security pays above the cross-industry midpoint because the buyer is technical, the cycle is longer, and the pool with real security context is small.