The head of the family office, sometimes called CEO, president or executive director, runs the whole office on the family's behalf: staff, advisers, governance and often investments.
Head of Family Office salary
We estimate $350K–$600K base salary for a head of family office at a US single family office managing $250M–$1B, with a typical bonus of 30–60%. Smaller offices pay about 15% less and $1B+ offices about 20% more.
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Estimated base salary at US single family offices. A starting point, not an offer. How we estimate.
Head of family office salary by city
| City | Base salary (estimate) |
|---|---|
| New York City | $400K–$690K |
| Chicago | $360K–$620K |
| Dallas | $350K–$600K |
| Houston | $345K–$590K |
| Los Angeles | $385K–$660K |
| Miami | $355K–$610K |
| Palm Beach | $360K–$620K |
| Boston | $370K–$635K |
| San Francisco Bay Area | $400K–$690K |
| Seattle | $380K–$650K |
| Atlanta | $345K–$590K |
| Austin | $350K–$600K |
Head of Family Office job description
- Lead the office and its staff
- Carry out the family's strategy and governance
- Oversee investments, reporting, tax and legal
- Manage relationships with the principal and the next generation
- Set the budget and choose advisers
Skills and background
- Executive leadership
- Family governance
- Investment oversight
- Trust and diplomacy
- Long-term planning
Typical background: 20+ years in senior finance, investment or legal roles, often with prior family office leadership.
Head of family office interview questions
- How would you prepare the next generation to take part in governance?
- What's the right size for this office?
- How do you build trust with a principal you've just met?
- What should we outsource and what should we keep in-house?
More in our guide to family office interview questions.
How we recruit a head of family office
We run retained searches for this role: a brief with you (and the principal where it matters), a shortlist of three to five vetted candidates, confidential interviews, and support through the offer and the first 90 days. Start a search.
Questions
What does a head of family office earn?
We estimate $350K–$600K base salary at a US single family office managing $250M–$1B, plus a typical bonus of 30–60% of base. Pay varies by city and office size.
What does a head of family office do?
The head of the family office, sometimes called CEO, president or executive director, runs the whole office on the family's behalf: staff, advisers, governance and often investments.
What background does a head of family office need?
20+ years in senior finance, investment or legal roles, often with prior family office leadership.
How do you recruit a head of family office?
We usually run a retained search: a brief with the family, a vetted shortlist, confidential interviews and help closing the offer.