Short answer: in Australia, a fractional executive typically costs A$7,000–A$18,000 a month for one to two days a week, depending on the role and scope. Day rates average about A$1,700–A$2,150 depending on the role, within a wider range of A$1,200–A$2,500 for senior fractional executives (Fractionus). My own fractional seats start from A$12,000 + GST a month for about one day a week, advisory retainers from A$5,000 + GST a month, and a two-week diagnostic sprint from A$15,000 + GST.
The rest of this guide explains what sits behind those numbers, so you can budget with confidence.
Fractional executive rates by role in Australia
Published market data for Australia in 2026 puts monthly retainers and day rates roughly here:
| Role | Monthly retainer (AUD) | Average day rate (AUD) | Full-time base salary (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fractional CFO | A$7,000–A$15,000 | About A$1,700 (median, 9 verified rates) | A$200,000–A$280,000 |
| Fractional COO | A$8,000–A$16,000 | About A$2,100 (22 verified rates) | A$200,000–A$260,000 |
| Fractional CTO | A$9,000–A$18,000 | About A$1,850 (10 verified rates) | A$190,000–A$260,000 |
| Fractional CPO (product) | A$9,000–A$17,000 | Not published | A$180,000–A$250,000 |
| Fractional CMO | A$10,000–A$18,000 | About A$1,900 (13 verified rates) | A$200,000–A$280,000 |
| Fractional CRO | A$10,000–A$18,000 | About A$2,150 (13 verified rates) | A$200,000–A$280,000 |
| Fractional CHRO | A$7,000–A$14,000 | Not published | A$180,000–A$250,000 |
| Fractional Chief AI Officer | About A$8,000–A$18,000 (my estimate) | No verified fractional rate yet; interim and contract A$1,650–A$2,700 | About A$245,000 (director of AI); A$253,000 median (head of AI) |
Sources: monthly retainers and full-time salaries from Fractionus, fractional executive cost in Australia; day rates from Fractionus, State of Fractional Work in Australia (rates at 28 September 2026). Chief AI Officer: US day rate of US$1,904 (79 verified rates) from Fractionus, converted at about US$0.70; director of AI compensation from the Think and Grow 2025–26 Australian Tech Salary Guide, via Startup Daily. Ranges are indicative and exclude GST.
The Chief AI Officer is the newest of these roles, so its rates vary more widely with scope and the amount of hands-on delivery involved. Each linked role has its own guide with the detail: what a fractional COO costs, what a fractional CRO or CMO costs and what a fractional Chief AI Officer costs.
Fractional executive day rates
Some fractional executives charge by the day rather than a monthly retainer. Verified Australian averages run from about A$1,700 a day for a fractional CFO to about A$2,150 for a fractional CRO (Fractionus). Across senior fractional executives, most charge A$1,200–A$2,500 a day (Fractionus), and short project work can run higher, at A$2,000–A$4,000 a day (Fractionus, rates by role).
To turn a day rate into a monthly figure, multiply by four to five days a month for one day a week. At A$2,000 a day, that’s A$8,000–A$10,000 a month.
A monthly retainer usually works out higher per day, because it buys more than the days in the office: availability between them, calls with your team, board papers and the thinking time that doesn’t fit neatly into a timesheet. My A$12,000 seat is about one day a week, or four to five days a month.
My pricing
| Engagement | What it is | Price (AUD, ex GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic sprint | About two weeks of senior time. Board-ready findings and a 90-day plan | From A$15,000 |
| Fractional seat | A C-suite role for about one day a week, typically for 6–12 months | From A$12,000 a month |
| Advisory retainer | One to two days a month of senior counsel for the CEO and board | From A$5,000 a month |
| Interim executive | Full-time for 3–18 months, relocation available | Quoted after a call |
| Program leadership | Ownership of a platform, migration or launch program | Quoted after a call |
More days a week, multi-region scope or a significant program on top of the role will move the price up. For private equity owners there’s also a retainer across several portfolio companies. I’ll always give you a fixed monthly figure before we start.
Fractional versus a full-time hire
A full-time C-suite executive in Australia typically costs a base salary of around A$190,000–A$280,000, plus 25–35% in on-costs such as superannuation, payroll tax, leave and benefits (Fractionus). That’s roughly A$240,000–A$380,000 a year before recruitment fees, incentives or equity.
Salary surveys that include smaller businesses come in lower. Payscale puts the average Australian COO at about A$161,000 (213 profiles, range A$102,000–A$258,000) and the average CTO at about A$198,000 (87 profiles, range A$111,000–A$279,000), with bonuses on top (Payscale, COO; Payscale, CTO). For the experienced executive a mid-market business usually needs, the higher ranges are the realistic comparison.
A fractional executive has a higher day rate but works far fewer days, and you avoid:
- Recruitment fees and a three-to-six-month search
- On-costs, incentives and equity
- Long-term commitment when the need may only be for a stage of growth
- The risk of a wrong hire at the most senior level
A worked example: year one
Here’s a rough year-one comparison for a COO, using the midpoint of the ranges above.
| Cost line | Full-time COO | Fractional COO (1 day a week) |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary or fees | A$235,000 | A$144,000 (12 × A$12,000) |
| On-costs (super, payroll tax, leave, benefits at ~30%) | A$70,500 | Nil if invoiced through a company |
| Recruitment | A recruiter fee plus a 3–6 month search | Nil; typically starts within weeks |
| Year-one cost (ex GST) | About A$305,500 plus recruitment | About A$144,000 |
This example leaves out the bonus most COO packages include. What a fractional COO costs has the COO-specific salary data and a fuller comparison.
The full-time hire gives you five days a week; the fractional seat gives you one. The question is whether you need five days of a senior operator yet, or one day of someone who has done the job before. You can run your own numbers with the fractional vs full-time cost calculator. It can also email you a pre-filled board paper with the same numbers.
For many mid-market companies the real comparison isn’t fractional versus full-time. It’s fractional versus no one senior doing the job at all while the CEO carries it.
Super, payroll tax and GST
The tax treatment depends on how the executive is engaged. In broad terms:
- GST. Most fractional executives are registered for GST and add 10% to their invoices. If your business is registered for GST, you can generally claim it back as an input tax credit.
- Superannuation. If the executive invoices through their own company or trust, you generally don’t pay super guarantee. If you engage an individual mainly for their labour, super guarantee can apply even though they’re a contractor (ATO).
- Payroll tax. Each state has contractor provisions that can bring some contractor payments into payroll tax. Whether they apply depends on the arrangement and your state, so check with your accountant.
This is general information, not tax advice.
What drives the price
- Time. One day a week is the most common starting point. Two or three days, or full-time interim cover, scale the cost accordingly.
- Scope. Advising a leadership team costs less than owning a P&L, a team and a transformation program.
- Complexity. Multiple regions, channels, entities or a listed-company environment add work and risk.
- Seniority and track record. Executives who have held the role at scale, and can show results, charge more, and usually deliver faster.
- Duration. Longer engagements often allow a lower monthly rate than short, intensive ones.
How to budget for a fractional executive
- Start with a diagnostic. A fixed-fee sprint tells you what the problem really is, and whether you need a fractional executive at all, before you commit to a retainer.
- Tie the retainer to outcomes. Agree two or three measurable results for the first 90 days. If the numbers don’t move, you should know quickly.
- Plan the exit. Decide up front whether the goal is to build the team so the role isn’t needed, or to hire a full-time executive later.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Have you held this role, at this scale, in a business like ours?
- What will be different after 90 days, and how will we measure it?
- How many days a week will you actually be with us, and how do you split your time across clients?
- What happens at the end of the engagement?
The bottom line
Expect to pay A$7,000–A$18,000 a month, or about A$1,700–A$2,150 a day, for fractional C-suite leadership in Australia, and judge it on what it changes in the business rather than the day rate. If you’d like to talk through what your situation would cost, book a 30-minute call, or see the detail on how I work.
Common questions
How much does a fractional executive cost per month in Australia?
Typically A$7,000–A$18,000 a month for one to two days a week, depending on the role and scope. My fractional seats start from A$12,000 + GST a month for about one day a week.
What is a typical day rate for a fractional executive in Australia?
Verified Australian averages run from about A$1,700 a day for a fractional CFO to about A$2,150 for a fractional CRO, and senior fractional executives generally charge A$1,200–A$2,500 a day. Monthly retainers usually work out higher per day because they include availability, calls and work between scheduled days.
How much does a fractional Chief AI Officer cost in Australia?
No marketplace publishes a verified Australian fractional rate yet, but recruiters' 2026 guides put interim and contract Chief AI Officer and head of AI day rates at about A$1,650–A$2,700, so expect roughly A$8,000–A$18,000 a month for one to two days a week. My fractional Chief AI Officer seat starts from A$12,000 + GST a month.
Do I pay super on a fractional executive?
Usually not if they invoice through their own company or trust. Super guarantee can apply if you engage an individual mainly for their labour, even as a contractor, so check the ATO guidance or ask your accountant.
Is a fractional executive cheaper than a full-time hire?
For one or two days a week, yes. A fractional seat at A$12,000 a month is about A$144,000 a year, compared with roughly A$240,000–A$380,000 for a full-time executive once on-costs are included, before recruitment fees.
Can I claim the GST on a fractional executive's invoices?
If your business is registered for GST and the work is for your business, you can generally claim the GST as an input tax credit, so the real cost is the ex-GST figure.
