US startups from seed to Series B post a median forward deployed engineer (FDE) base range of $175K–$225K. The middle of that range is $200K, and that is exactly what FDE candidates ask for: a median of $200K across 82 candidates who booked a call with us. If your band tops out at $200K, candidates start the conversation at your ceiling.
This report combines 75 FDE job postings with pay at 114 seed to Series B startups (October 2026) with what 82 forward deployed engineers told us they want when they booked a call with Recruiting from Scratch.
Median posted base range, open US roles first seen in the last 90 days.
| Segment | Median posted range | Typical midpoint | Paid postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| All seed to Series B | $175K – $225K | $200K | 75 |
| Series A | $170K – $220K | $200K | 38 |
| Series B | $180K – $220K | $190K | 25 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | $160K – $245K | $200K | 28 |
| New York | $180K – $220K | $195K | 28 |
Seed, remote, and senior or lead FDE bands are not shown because each has fewer than 20 paid postings.
Across 82 forward deployed engineers who booked a call with us in the last six months, the median target was $200K, and the middle half asked for $175K–$225K. Six in ten candidates we speak with are already actively interviewing somewhere else.
Across 141 FDE job descriptions at the same startups:
Forward deployed engineering is our most-placed engineering specialty. We recently hired three forward deployed engineers for Cinder from a single search, and we placed six engineers at Mercor in one month. We work on contingency and send a shortlist of 3–5 vetted candidates.
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A median posted base range of $175K–$225K across 75 US seed to Series B postings with pay (October 2026). The typical midpoint is $200K.
A median of $200K, the midpoint of the range stated by 82 candidates when they booked a call with Recruiting from Scratch.
New York's typical floor is higher ($180K against $160K). San Francisco's ranges are wider and reach higher at the top.
Rarely. Commission is listed in 6% of FDE job descriptions. A bonus is listed in 27% and equity in 55%.
Postings: open US roles first seen in the last 90 days with forward deployed engineering titles, at companies whose last round was seed to Series B (since 2023), with a known total raised that fits the stage and 250 or fewer employees. Duplicate multi-city posts count once, at most two postings per company are included, and ranges stated as total compensation are excluded. Segments with fewer than 20 paid postings are not shown. Amounts are rounded to $5K. Posted ranges are base salary.
Candidate asks: the midpoint of the range stated by 82 unique forward deployed engineer candidates when booking a call in the last six months, counted once per person. Answers stated as total compensation are excluded. Asks may include additional compensation such as equity or bonus.
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