A Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is responsible for technical product development. They lead and motivate a company’s team in the research and development department and are sometimes responsible for mediating between management and development.
A CTO aligns the technological infrastructure with the company’s vision and mission.
What does a Chief Technology Officer do?
Job description
A Chief Technology Officer is present in every technology company. Typical industries include automotive, mechanical engineering, aerospace, shipbuilding and energy (wind power).
In technically oriented companies, the CTO heads the research and development department and shapes the future of the product.
Their role is of strategic importance to the company mainly because they set the technological direction and thus set the course for future success.
The CTO position falls within the C-suite or C-level functions, and its exact functions are among the most complicated to define.
The exact responsibilities will depend a lot on the type of company in which they work, including:
- Business type
- Structure of the technical team (permanent workers, freelancers, outsourcing, etc.)
- Agility in the company, industry, startup or traditional family business, etc.
Responsibilities of a Chief Technology Officer
The typical tasks of a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) include market analysis, identification of the best technology solutions, direction of the company’s technical strategy and evaluation of new technologies.
Because these offers are responsible for establishing a technical strategy aligned with the general business strategy, they are therefore also in charge of planning and monitoring the stages of technical development.
They are responsible for managing relationships with technology suppliers and are the buffers between the CEO and the IT team.
As a technical expert, a technology officer also assumes responsibilities within talent management or HR and is involved in conducting staff appraisals.
Responsibilities of a Chief Technology Officer:
- Conduct market analysis and identification of innovative technologies that can provide competitive advantage
- In charge of helping the company use technology efficiently and profitably
- Create a technological strategy of the company
- Evaluate new and emerging technologies
- Supervise the IT infrastructure to ensure functionality
- Manage IT budget
- Manage IT department and the technical team
- Review IT practices in accordance with external and internal standards
- Manage relations with suppliers (vendor management)
Looking for experts in this field?
Find the right freelancer for your business now
What skills does a Chief Technology Officer have?
A Chief Technology Officer should have sound technical knowledge and a strong affinity for IT. They must also have strong knowledge of the following topics:
- DevOps
- Software
- Agile development and;
- Computer security
Additionally, a CTO also needs an analytical, strategic and business-savvy mind. It is essential that they think in economic terms and manage budgets well.
In terms of soft skills, good communication skills will be needed to be able to manage the team, speak with management and/or suppliers. They must also possess strong leadership and time-management skills and must have the ability to work well under pressure. Open-mindedness and intercultural competence are also important for a CTO to have.
Skills of a CTO:
- Strong knowledge of programming and IT
- Knowledge of protocols and computer standards
- Experience with DevOps, Agile and computer security
- Knowledge of business, budgets and business models
- Experience in product management and project management
- Sense of economy and business management
- Experience in team management and talent identification
- Conceptual and analytical capabilities
- Strong leadership skills
- Good time management skills
- Ability to work well under pressure
Looking for CTO jobs?
Find the right project for you here
How do you become a CTO?
One of the prerequisites to working as a Chief Technology Officer is an IT education. As a rule, a degree in Computer Engineering, IT, Computing, or a related field is required. In addition, employers usually expect several years of relevant professional experience. Therefore, applicants should have references as developers, project managers or team leaders in the field of research and development.
Because a technology office has to be aware of the latest developments in technology, they must continue training even after obtaining a CTO position. After all, your job as a CTO is to keep the company up to date with the latest technology.
There are currently countless courses and online training available to continue training in the sector. Options for a few are shown below:
- CTO Leadership Foundation Course
- Chief Technology Officer Program
- Blended Professional Certificate: Chief Technology Officer
- Fifteen Great CTO Leadership Hacks
How much does a CTO make?
The salary of a chief technological officer depends on factors such as industry, region, size of the employer, individual qualifications and experience, hierarchical level, scope of personnel responsibility and negotiating skills.
Generally though, a CTO who’s just starting out can expect a salary of around $178,900 per annual year whereas a CTO with years of experience and skills can expect a salary of around $342,450. The average salary for a chief technology officer is $258,670.
In Germany, the salary range for a technology officer is €60,000-€174,000 whereas in the UK, the range is £46,000-£193,000.
Salary of a CTO:
| US | $178,900 – $258,670 |
| Germany | €60,000 – €174,000 |
| UK | £46,000 – £193,000 |
How much do freelance Chief Technology Officers make?
Chief Technology Officers on freelancermap charge on average:
Rates in this field range between $33 and $106/hour for most freelancers.
The daily rate for Chief Technology Officers (8 working hours) would be around:
What is a fractional CTO?
With the new reality in which we live, a new title has emerged called fractional CTO.
Fractional CTOs are professionals who act as CTO as independent professionals, on-demand and generally, part-time. They typically hold the same responsibilities and work on the same tasks.
As a fractional CTO, your services will be useful for those companies that need, for example:
- A specific technological strategy for a product
- Accompaniment to execute strategy, market analysis, IT team management
In the United States, where there are a large number of digital organisations, there is already a large demand for fractional CTOs. They come to work when only part of the CTO’s responsibilities are missing.
In addition, because a fractional CTOs role is only part-time, they are often a much cheaper alternative than hiring full-time CTOs. For this reason, fractional CTOs are an attractive role for companies with limited staff budgets such as startups.
According to ZipRecruiter, fractional CTOs make $138,000/year.
Thanks to talent marketplaces such as freelancermap, it’s easier to access these part-time, independent, or fractional c-executives.
For example, you could hire William H., a Fractional CTO charging €150/hour or €1,200/day.
Remember freelancermap charges no commission fees to companies or freelancers. Get connected with the best IT talent and companies at no cost!
