Marketing Director & CMO Recruitment Agency

A Marketing Director typically earns between €70k and €110k gross fixed salary per year, depending on seniority, the size of the team managed, the sector and the size of the company. At SMEs and large corporates, the package combines a fixed salary and a variable component tied to objectives; at startups and scale-ups, it often comes with an equity package (BSPCE). The most experienced candidates, at fast-growing companies or large corporates, regularly earn above this ceiling. To compare role by role, see our study on startup salaries (in French).

As a member of the executive committee, the CMO sits at the top of the marketing range: around €80k to €130k gross fixed salary per year, plus a variable component and an often significant equity package (BSPCE) reflecting their C-level responsibility. At early stage, the fixed salary may be more modest (€60k to €90k) but offset by a larger equity stake; at scale-up stage, the overall package rises markedly. See also our article on digital marketing salaries (in French).

Marketing Director and CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) often refer to the same scope, the marketing function, but the CMO title emphasises the C-level dimension: a seat on the executive committee and responsibility for the overall marketing vision (acquisition, growth, brand, communications). The Head of Marketing is usually a more operational, hands-on role, with a narrower scope or at an earlier stage; they may report to a CMO or directly to the founders. In short: the CMO owns the strategy and scales the team, while the Head of Marketing executes and puts structure in place on the ground. See the CMO job profile (in French) for a detailed description of the role.