Chief of Staff Positions Offer Six-Figure Pay and Fast-Track to the C-Suite

Chief of staff roles are expanding rapidly, providing high salaries and direct exposure to CEOs, which can accelerate advancement to senior leadership.

Corporate America is witnessing a surge in chief of staff appointments, with postings more than doubling annually and the headcount in North America tripling since 2021. Senior chiefs of staff command salaries above $200,000, and positions in technology and finance can exceed $400,000, often including equity stakes. Working side-by-side with CEOs or other senior leaders, they manage board decks, attend critical meetings, monitor company priorities, and troubleshoot stalled projects, giving them a panoramic view of business operations.

McKinsey’s analysis of roughly 250 chiefs of staff revealed a median stint of 2.3 years, after which two-thirds are promoted, typically advancing more than one organizational level. Only a small fraction transition directly to another chief-of-staff role. Most serve CEOs, while others support C-suite officers, regional heads, or board chairs, making the position a practical apprenticeship for future executive roles such as VP, COO, chief strategy officer, or CEO.