VP Marketing

💰 $170K–$235K salary range

Median: $200K  ·  Based on 746 public job postings  ·  Updated September 12, 2026

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This leadership position crafts and executes marketing strategies, translating complex AI technologies into compelling value propositions for target markets at rapidly scaling high-growth companies. Based on 131 job postings, the salary range for this role is $185,000 to $276,000, with a median of $225,000. These professionals drive customer acquisition and brand awareness by leveraging data and technological insights unique to the AI landscape. Exceptional candidates commanding top pay demonstrate deep proficiency in AI model understanding, advanced data-driven campaign optimization, and sophisticated product-led growth strategies specifically tailored for AI platforms. Success in this role requires a blend of strategic vision and hands-on technical acumen to effectively position cutting-edge AI solutions.

📊 Salary breakdown

VP Marketing salary by location

• All locations: $200K median ($170K–$235K typical range)
• New York: $198K median, $174K–$231K range (-1% vs. national)
• San Francisco: $225K median, $203K–$260K range (+13% vs. national)
• Chicago: $170K median, $146K–$180K range (-15% vs. national)
• Los Angeles: $193K median, $156K–$210K range (-4% vs. national)
• Boston: $222K median, $196K–$233K range (+11% vs. national)
• Seattle: $224K median, $172K–$248K range (+12% vs. national)
• Denver: $160K median, $131K–$195K range (-20% vs. national)
• Austin: $149K median, $141K–$195K range (-25% vs. national)

Highest paying companies

San Francisco

• OpenAI: $344K median
• Exa: $250K median
• AfterQuery: $245K median
• Airwallex: $235K median
• Chime Financial, Inc: $196K median

New York

• Fora: $205K median
• Veeva: $175K median
• AVALERE HEALTH: $165K median
• Eversana: $135K median
• Sosemo: $133K median

Based on companies with 3+ active postings. Median of publicly advertised salary range.

What's typically included

• Health insurance: 72% of postings
• Equity (RSU/options): 70% of postings
• Flexible PTO: 54% of postings
• Parental leave: 29% of postings
• Learning/education budget: 14% of postings
• Visa sponsorship: 5% of postings

Typical experience required: 9–10 years.

Marketing salaries by seniority

• Marketing Coordinator: $87K
• Marketing Manager: $126K
• Growth / Marketing Manager: $135K
• Senior Growth Manager: $155K
• Marketing Lead: $176K
• Head of Growth: $190K
• VP Marketing: $200K

What does a VP Marketing do?

VP Marketings are marketers who drive demand, brand, and growth. This benchmark reflects Director-level base compensation at high-growth and AI-native companies.

Government wage data

For corroboration, U.S. Department of Labor certified wage filings (FY2026) show a median of $210K for VP Marketing roles, ranging $180K–$255K, across 66 filings. This is reported separately from — never blended with — the job-posting median above.

Common questions

What is the average VP Marketing salary at an AI startup?
The median pay is $200K, with a typical range of $170K–$235K, based on 746 public job postings collected in 2025–2026.

What is the VP Marketing salary in New York?
New York VP Marketings at AI-native startups earn a median of $198K, with a typical range of $174K–$231K (25th–75th percentile). That's 1% below the $200K US national median. 12% below San Francisco's $225K. Based on 167 qualifying postings, 2025–2026.

What is the VP Marketing salary in San Francisco?
San Francisco VP Marketings at AI-native startups earn a median of $225K, with a typical range of $203K–$260K (25th–75th percentile). That's 13% above the $200K US national median. Based on 101 qualifying postings, 2025–2026.

Where does this salary data come from?
It is aggregated from public job postings on company career pages — no private placement or client data. We require a minimum of 15 postings per role.

Methodology

Figures are the midpoint of each posting's advertised USD salary range, aggregated from 746 public job postings (2025–2026). The range shown is the 25th–75th percentile; the median is the 50th percentile. Equity is separate and not included; where a posting's range reflects on-target earnings (OTE) for commission roles, that is included in the midpoint. Roles require at least 15 postings to be published. Last refreshed September 12, 2026.

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