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What is a CTO? Job description, responsibilities, and salary expectations

The chief technology officer is the top of the software engineering career ladder, but there are many routes to reaching the position. Here are the expectations for the role, how to get there, and what you could earn.
December 20, 2022

The chief technology officer (CTO) is the top of the software engineering career ladder, but there are many routes to reaching the position.

A chief technology officer (CTO) is the technology function’s representative in the C-suite. They are ultimately responsible for how technology can be used to drive an organization forward. 

The CTO job is one of the top destinations an ambitious engineer can reach as they climb their way up the corporate ladder into management. It’s a job that won’t involve much actual engineering on a day-to-day basis, but it’s a great fit for those with a strong sense of how technology could dovetail with their company’s goals.

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