rouka · compensation intelligenceBenchmark set 6.2 · September 20265,222 roles · 140 regions · 10 sectors
rouka

Fintech & Corporate Finance · C-Suite · 15 to 21 years typical

CFO (Fintech, Series C/D) Salary

Annual base compensation, national and by market, from 258 named sources. Every figure below says where it came from.

National band · annual base
$300,000
P25
$350,000
P50 · median
$400,000
P75
$450,000
P90
MODELED
rouka methodology. Compensation surveys named on the Sources page. Benchmark set version 6.2, September 2026.
By market
MarketMultiplierP25P50P75P90
New York City, NY1.40×$420,000$490,000$560,000$630,000
San Francisco, CA1.30×$390,000$455,000$520,000$590,000
Boston, MA1.25×$375,000$440,000$500,000$560,000
Palm Beach, FL1.25×$375,000$440,000$500,000$560,000
Miami, FL1.23×$370,000$430,000$490,000$550,000
Los Angeles, CA1.20×$360,000$420,000$480,000$540,000
Washington, DC1.20×$360,000$420,000$480,000$540,000
Seattle, WA1.15×$345,000$400,000$460,000$520,000
Chicago, IL1.05×$315,000$370,000$420,000$475,000
Dallas, TX1.00×$300,000$350,000$400,000$450,000
MODELED
Regional multipliers applied to the national band and rounded to the nearest $5,000, the same arithmetic the Brief uses. rouka methodology. Compensation surveys named on the Sources page. Benchmark set version 6.2, September 2026.
Market
Candidate market
Very Tight
Scarcity 8 of 10
MODELED
rouka methodology
Candidate pool
100 to 250
active nationally
ESTIMATED
rouka search records
Demand
Growing
7% year over year
ESTIMATED
rouka search records
Retention
3.6 yrs
average tenure, 17% annual turnover
ESTIMATED
rouka search records
The package
Base60%
Bonus, performance-based24%
Benefits16%
Signing bonus, in 55% of offers$50,000 to $100,000

Time to fill 14 weeks for comparable searches, estimated from rouka's benchmark set.

Market trend

Series C/D fintech CFOs must balance growth with profitability and IPO readiness, driving up demand for candidates with both startup and public-company backgrounds. Increased scrutiny from investors and regulators has elevated the strategic importance and compensation of this role.

Also known as
CFO (Series C/D Fintech)Chief Financial Officer, Growth StageCFO & EVP Finance (Fintech)Growth-Stage CFOCFO, Late-Stage Startup

What does a CFO (Fintech, Series C/D) do?

The CFO (Fintech, Series C/D) operates within fintech companies, financial services firms, and corporate finance functions, building financial products, managing compliance, or driving operational growth. Professionals in this role typically bring 15 to 21 years of relevant experience. Classified at the C-Suite level, this position draws from a very tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 100-250 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.

What drives CFO (Fintech, Series C/D) compensation?

The median (P50) compensation for a CFO (Fintech, Series C/D) is $350,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $300,000 to $400,000. Pay variation across this range is primarily driven by company stage and funding (startup vs. growth vs. public), regulatory complexity, geographic market, technical specialization (payments, lending, crypto, regtech), and equity compensation structure. Demand for this role is trending upward with 7% year-over-year growth, which is putting upward pressure on compensation at all levels.

CFO (Fintech, Series C/D) career path

Professionals who move into CFO (Fintech, Series C/D) roles most commonly come from traditional banking, management consulting, software engineering, regulatory bodies, or corporate finance at public companies. From this position, the typical trajectory leads toward C-suite positions at fintech firms, VP-level roles at larger financial institutions, or founding their own financial technology venture. The average tenure in this role is approximately 3.6 years, with an annual turnover rate of 17%.

Related roles · Fintech & Corporate FinanceMedian
CFO (Fintech, Series C/D)$350,000

Hiring a CFO (Fintech, Series C/D)?

A search playbook for this seat: compensation positioning against the band above, the sourcing map, and the interview framework.