Data Report
State of Fractional CMOs 2027
Rates, availability, experience, and specialization, from the RankedCMO directory.
By Michael Bloom, Editor · Data as of October 2026 · 8 min read
Key Findings
$300/hr
Median hourly rate
Median midpoint of published hourly ranges (n=26). Middle half: $213-$375.
$9,000/mo
Median monthly retainer per client
Median midpoint of published retainer ranges (n=32). Middle half: $6,000-$11,750.
81%
Available to start now
Of claimed profiles; 17% have limited availability (n=53).
80%
Have 12+ years of experience
Half report 18+ years (n=54).
96%
Work remote or remote with travel
Only 4% work local-only (n=54).
62%
Also take interim CMO roles
Every claimed profile offers monthly retainers (n=53).
Rates by Industry
Median midpoint of published rate ranges, for industries with at least eight profiles publishing a retainer. Hourly medians are shown where at least eight profiles publish an hourly range. A CMO can list several industries, so profiles appear in more than one row.
| Industry | Median monthly retainer | Median hourly | n (retainer / hourly) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketplace | $11,500 | n<8 | 9 / 6 |
| DTC Ecommerce | $10,000 | $375 | 12 / 11 |
| B2B SaaS | $10,000 | $325 | 13 / 11 |
| B2B Ecommerce | $9,000 | $350 | 9 / 8 |
| Retail | $9,000 | $300 | 12 / 11 |
| Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) | $9,000 | $225 | 10 / 10 |
| B2C SaaS / Consumer Apps | $9,000 | $225 | 9 / 10 |
| Media & Publishing | $9,000 | n<8 | 9 / 7 |
| FinTech | $7,700 | n<8 | 10 / 7 |
| Food & Beverage | $6,500 | $225 | 8 / 8 |
For buyer-side pricing guidance, see the fractional CMO cost guide and fractional CMO salary and rates.
Engagement Types Offered
Share of claimed profiles (n=53)
Years of Experience
Profiles listing experience (n=54)
Company Stages Served
Profiles listing stages (n=54)
Most Common Competencies
Profiles listing competencies (n=53)
Industry Focus
Number of published profiles listing each industry (all 172 profiles)
- 1. B2B SaaS58
- 2. FinTech27
- 3. Retail26
- 4. DTC Ecommerce23
- 5. Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)21
- 6. Media & Publishing20
- 7. B2C SaaS / Consumer Apps20
- 8. Healthcare / Life Sciences19
- 9. HealthTech / MedTech19
- 10. Manufacturing & Industrial19
Excludes the general Professional Services tag, which is applied broadly to imported profiles.
Where U.S. Fractional CMOs Are Based
Profiles by state (top states)
- 1. California20
- 2. Texas16
- 3. Florida10
- 4. Colorado9
- 5. Georgia9
- 6. Pennsylvania9
- 7. Illinois8
- 8. Massachusetts8
- 9. New York8
- 10. Tennessee8
- 11. Washington8
With 96% working remote, location matters less for hiring than it does for local events and in-person workshops.
Methodology
Data is drawn from the RankedCMO directory as of October 2026: 172 published fractional CMO profiles, of which 53 have been claimed and edited by the CMO. Rates, availability, experience, work preference, engagement types, stages, and competencies come from claimed profiles, because those fields are supplied by the CMO. Industry and location counts use all published profiles. Rate figures use the midpoint of each profile's published low and high rate, then take the median across profiles. Sample sizes are shown next to each figure; small samples move as new profiles are added, so treat category-level figures as directional.
Cite this report
Journalists, analysts, and bloggers are welcome to cite or chart these figures with attribution and a link: “State of Fractional CMOs 2027, RankedCMO” (rankedcmo.com/state-of-fractional-cmos-2027).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do fractional CMOs charge in 2027?▾
Based on rates published on RankedCMO profiles (October 2026), the median fractional CMO charges $300 per hour and $9,000 per month per client, using the midpoint of each profile's published range. The middle half of profiles charge $213-$375 per hour and $6,000-$11,750 per month.
Which industries pay fractional CMOs the most?▾
In RankedCMO data, Marketplace ($11,500 median monthly retainer), DTC Ecommerce ($10,000), and B2B SaaS ($10,000) had the highest median retainers among industries with at least eight profiles publishing rates. DTC Ecommerce also had the highest median hourly rate at $375. Food & Beverage had the lowest median retainer at $6,500. Samples are small, so treat these as directional.
How experienced are fractional CMOs?▾
Very. 80% of fractional CMOs who list experience on RankedCMO report 12 or more years, and half report 18 or more. Fewer than 10% report under 8 years.
Do fractional CMOs work remotely?▾
Almost all do. 96% of RankedCMO profiles that specify a work preference work remote or remote with travel; only 4% work local-only.
What company stages do fractional CMOs serve?▾
Growth-stage (Series B/C) companies are the most common, served by 87% of profiles that list stages, followed by mid-market (83%), scale-up (81%), and Series A (78%). Fewer take seed (44%) or pre-revenue (30%) companies.
Can I use this data?▾
Yes. You are welcome to cite or chart these figures with attribution and a link to this page: "State of Fractional CMOs 2027, RankedCMO" (rankedcmo.com/state-of-fractional-cmos-2027).
Compare the fractional CMOs behind the data
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