How much will CFOs, CTOs, and COOs earn in Poland in 2026? Salary ranges
W skrócie
CFO (Chief Financial Officer): median of 19,240–24,630 PLN gross/month according to wynagrodzenia.pl (Sedlak & Sedlak), 30,000–40,000 PLN according to the Antal Salary Report 2024. Board members: 25,000–55,000 PLN according to data from Hays.
CTO (Chief Technology Officer): 35,000–50,000 PLN gross/month, according to the Antal Salary Report 2024. For comparison, the CIO in the same report: 35,000–70,000 PLN.
COO (Chief Operating Officer): median of 21,520–22,890 PLN gross/month according to wynagrodzenia.pl and OLX Zawodowo, with a 50% range of approximately 16,000–30,000 PLN.
These figures have a direct impact on recruitment costs—under a commission-based model (a percentage of annual salary), a higher candidate salary means a higher agency fee. Below, we show how to calculate this using a specific example.
How much will a CFO earn in Poland in 2026?
Data on CFO compensation varies significantly depending on the source and market segment, which in itself is an important point—the CFO role is highly diverse: the salary of a CFO at a small company differs from that of a board member responsible for finance at a large organization.
| Source | Range / Median | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| wynagrodzenia.pl (Sedlak & Sedlak) | Median: 24,630 PLN gross; middle 50%: 17,840–33,300 PLN | Nationwide sample, all company sizes |
| LiveCareer, citing wynagrodzenia.pl | Median: 19,240 PLN gross; upper quartile: over 25,660 PLN | An earlier sample from the same website — the difference illustrates how the data varies over time |
| Antal 2024 Salary Report (via pulshr.pl) | 30,000–40,000 PLN gross | Corporate sample, consisting mainly of large and medium-sized companies |
| Hays (2020, regarding 2019 salaries) | Members of the management board: 25,000–55,000 PLN; other chief financial officers: 20,000–35,000 PLN | Distinguishes between a CFO on the board of directors and a CFO without a board seat |
| Companies with revenue of 100–500 million EUR | 40,000–51,000 PLN gross | The segment of large organizations with high operational complexity |
Sources: wynagrodzenia.pl, livecareer.pl, pulshr.pl (Antal Salary Report 2024), historical data from Hays — FFS summary, July 2026.
How much will a CTO earn in Poland in 2026?
C-level IT salaries are among the highest on the market. According to the Antal 2024 Salary Report, a CTO earns 35,000–50,000 PLN gross per month. By comparison, a CIO (Chief Information Officer)—a role often confused with that of a CTO but focused more on IT infrastructure than on the technology product—earns, according to the same report, 35,000–70,000 PLN gross.
Note: CTO salaries depend heavily on whether the company is a software house or SaaS firm (where the CTO is responsible for the product and architecture) or a traditional company with an IT department (where the role is often closer to that of a CIO). It’s best to treat the salary ranges from general market reports as a reference point, not a rigid standard for a specific industry. This article does not cover CMOs—see the separate guide , “CMO Recruitment: How to Find a Chief Marketing Officer.”
How much will a COO earn in Poland in 2026?
Data on the Chief Operating Officer’s (COO) compensation is relatively consistent across independent sources, which enhances its reliability. FFS has a proven track record in recruiting for this position—see the case study on the Chief Operating Officer for Bujalski, which involved a niche manufacturing profile (ASME, PED/ISO) and relocation.
| Source | Median / Mean | The middle 50% range |
|---|---|---|
| wynagrodzenia.pl (Sedlak & Sedlak) | 21,520–22,890 PLN gross | 16,690–30,210 PLN |
| OLX for Professionals | 22,522 PLN gross | 16,261–30,000 PLN |
| zarabiaj.pl | 22,333 PLN gross (average) | — |
| Indeed (July 2024, smaller sample) | 16,370 PLN gross (average) | — |
Sources: wynagrodzenia.pl, OLX Zawodowo (via poradnikprzedsiebiorcy.pl), zarabiaj.pl, Indeed — FFS compilation, July 2026. In the largest organizations, a COO’s salary can reach as high as 50,000 PLN gross per month.
How does this range affect recruitment costs?
Under the percentage-based fee model (typical in Executive Search), a higher candidate salary means a higher agency fee—it’s a simple relationship, but it’s worth looking at it with specific numbers.
Example: Hiring a CFO with a gross monthly salary of 25,000 PLN.
For comparison: the market benchmark for traditional executive search in Poland ranges from 20% to 35% of annual compensation, which—for the same compensation package—would amount to 60,000–105,000 PLN. You can find a detailed calculator for various models (including Shortlist and AI Fractional Recruiter, which do not charge a percentage-based commission) in the article “How Much Does Executive Search Cost in Poland?”
Proof that FFS actually carries out projects at this level is provided by a documented case study on the CFO recruitment for PrestaShop—the first candidate was presented within 7 days, with over 20 potential profiles in the first stage, 2 finalists, and a search conducted simultaneously across several European markets (France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Poland). See the full case study on the CFO recruitment for PrestaShop.
Internal Sources of FFS — Costs, Models, and Case Studies
What These Data Don't Show
Limitations of Payroll Reports
- Different websites use different survey samples—hence the discrepancies between, for example, 19,240 and 30,000 PLN for a CFO.
- Most reports do not clearly distinguish between company size, industry, and location in publicly available data sets.
- Historical data (e.g., the 2020 Hays report) may not fully reflect the wage pressures of recent years.
- Total compensation often includes bonuses and incentives, which are included in some comparisons but not in others—this makes direct comparisons difficult.
- None of these sources consists of FFS's own data—we cite them as a market benchmark, not as our own research.
FAQ — Salaries of CFOs, CTOs, and COOs in Poland
How much will a CFO earn in Poland in 2026?
Depending on the source: median of 19,240–24,630 PLN gross per month according to wynagrodzenia.pl, 30,000–40,000 PLN according to the Antal 2024 Salary Report. Board members responsible for finance can earn 25,000–55,000 PLN gross, and in companies with revenue of 100–500 million EUR, as much as 40,000–51,000 PLN.
How much will a CTO earn in Poland in 2026?
According to the Antal 2024 Salary Report, a CTO earns 35,000–50,000 PLN gross per month. This is a lower range than that of a CIO (35,000–70,000 PLN according to the same report), although the two roles are sometimes confused.
How much will a COO / Chief Operating Officer earn in Poland in 2026?
The median salary is 21,520–22,890 PLN gross per month, according to wynagrodzenie.pl and OLX Zawodowo, with the 50th percentile range at approximately 16,000–30,000 PLN. In the largest organizations, a COO’s salary can reach as high as 50,000 PLN gross.
Why do different sources give different figures for the same position?
Payroll services differ in their sampling methodologies—they use different sets of respondents, different proportions of large and small companies, and data collected in different years. Corporate reports (e.g., Antal) are often based on a sample of large companies and therefore provide a wider salary range than general-market salary comparison sites.
How does a candidate's salary affect the cost of agency recruitment?
Under the percentage-based model (typical for Executive Search), the agency’s fee is calculated as a percentage of the candidate’s annual salary. With a CFO’s salary of 25,000 PLN gross per month (300,000 PLN per year) and an FFS rate of 16–22%, the fee ranges from 48,000 to 66,000 PLN. Models without a percentage-based commission, such as Shortlist or AI Fractional Recruiter, do not depend on the candidate’s salary.
Are you planning to hire a CFO, CTO, or COO?
Let's discuss a specific project—a free, no-obligation consultation with a realistic estimate of the cost and timeline.
Schedule a consultation →