Compensation benchmarks
Chief of Staff Salary in Washington D.C.
Base salary benchmarks for Chief of Staff roles in Washington D.C., broken down by industry and firm size. Filter to your sector to see what the market is paying.
Base salary · 19 benchmarks
Low$125,000
Average$187,368
Top$345,000
Speak to a specialist consultantGet a confidential view on what the role should pay — and how to secure the calibre of person it demands.
| Chief of Staff | Washington D.C. | Private Equity & Venture Capital | Large Institution | $195,000 | $245,000 | $295,000 |
| Chief of Staff | Washington D.C. | Professional Services | Large Institution | $175,000 | $225,000 | $300,000 |
| Chief of Staff | Washington D.C. | Family Office | Boutique | $195,000 | $220,000 | $345,000 |
| Chief of Staff | Washington D.C. | Real Estate | Large Institution | $180,000 | $215,000 | $290,000 |
| Chief of Staff | Washington D.C. | PR & Communications | Large Institution | $180,000 | $215,000 | $280,000 |
| Chief of Staff | Washington D.C. | Professional Services | Mid-Market | $150,000 | $200,000 | $250,000 |
| Chief of Staff | Washington D.C. | Private Equity & Venture Capital | Mid-Market | $180,000 | $195,000 | $245,000 |
| Chief of Staff | Washington D.C. | Investment Banking | Mid-Market | $175,000 | $190,000 | $240,000 |
| Chief of Staff | Washington D.C. | PR & Communications | Mid-Market | $155,000 | $190,000 | $210,000 |
| Chief of Staff | Washington D.C. | Professional Services | Boutique | $150,000 | $185,000 | $200,000 |
| Chief of Staff | Washington D.C. | Technology | Mid-Market | $140,000 | $185,000 | $230,000 |
| Chief of Staff | Washington D.C. | Private Equity & Venture Capital | Boutique | $145,000 | $170,000 | $245,000 |
| Chief of Staff | Washington D.C. | Investment Banking | Boutique | $140,000 | $165,000 | $240,000 |
| Chief of Staff | Washington D.C. | Technology | Boutique | $140,000 | $165,000 | $185,000 |
| Chief of Staff | Washington D.C. | Asset & Wealth Management | Mid-Market | $155,000 | $165,000 | $190,000 |
| Chief of Staff | Washington D.C. | Real Estate | Boutique | $145,000 | $160,000 | $180,000 |
| Chief of Staff | Washington D.C. | Real Estate | Mid-Market | $145,000 | $160,000 | $240,000 |
| Chief of Staff | Washington D.C. | Asset & Wealth Management | Boutique | $140,000 | $155,000 | $175,000 |
| Chief of Staff | Washington D.C. | PR & Communications | Boutique | $125,000 | $155,000 | $190,000 |
Figures reflect base salary ranges observed across Blackbook Associates mandates and market intelligence. Total compensation, including bonus and other incentives, will vary by firm and individual. Our benchmarks skew towards the upper end of the market. While managing the diary and inbox remains part of the role, we place proactive professionals expected to add commercial value and operate as a genuine extension of their principal — a different calibre to the reactive, old-school secretary — and compensation reflects that.