7 of the Best Types of Cio Jobs in 2026

Discover some great types of Cio jobs that are hiring now.

High Paying Cio Jobs

• Summer Cio

  Salary range: $125,000 - $188,500

  Summer jobs are an integral part of American culture for students in their teens and beyond, but not all summer jobs are created equal. The difference between a great summer and an awful one can be the right job. According to Forbes, some good summer jobs for teens are camp counselor, golf caddy, nanny, food service, retail sales, and, of course, internships.

• Full Time Cio

  Salary range: $125,000 - $188,500

  Full-time employment hours are generally determined by the employer. There is no single universal definition; however, various laws and policies govern different types of eligibility and statuses. For example, the Fair Labor Standards Act does not define full-time employment but does require overtime pay after 40 hours of work in a workweek for non-exempt employees. The Affordable Care Act, in determining Applicable Large Employers, defines full-time employees as those working an average of at least 30 hours per week, or 130 hours a month. The H-1B Visa Program defines full-time as 40 hours per week, normally, and in no event would less than 35 hours per week be considered to be full-time employment. In practice, full-time employment is typically between 32 and 40 hours per week.

• Freelance Cio

  Salary range: $50,500 - $128,500

  Freelancers are self-employed. As a freelancer, you provide work to clients and invoice them for it. The type of clients you have depends on what kind of services you offer. Your clients can be individuals or companies. A full-time freelancer often has assignments from multiple clients at once. Some common services that people provide as freelancers are: writing, editing, graphic design, web design, marketing, programming, accounting, and bookkeeping. Freelancing is ideal for those who prefer to be their own boss and are willing to market themselves to meet their income goals.

• Executive Cio

  Salary range: $58,000 - $120,500

  The different types of executive jobs include upper- and senior-level management as well as the C-suite—the highest levels of senior management. The C-suite executives have the word “chief” at the beginning of their titles: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) are the most common. Companies with a heavy reliance on information technology may also have a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Other executive jobs include vice president and director of various departments.

• Junior Cio

  Salary range: $36,000 - $57,500

  Junior Cio is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Junior Cio jobs pay between $36,000 (25th percentile) and $57,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Junior Cio job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Virtual Cio

  Salary range: $42,500 - $57,000

  The primary qualification you need to become a virtual CIO is at least a bachelor’s degree in management information systems, business administration, information technology, computer science, or a related field, though some employers prefer candidates with a master’s degree. You also need to have several years of industry experience with proven success in managing IT services or IT consulting. Virtual CIOs are usually on staff at technology consulting firms and may work with one large client or several smaller clients at the same time to develop strategic IT plans and budgets. You should be proficient in a variety of industry programs, such as ConnectWise, ESET, Mimecast, StorageCraft, Bomgar, Cisco, or HP Switches. Certification is not required, but earning industry certifications like A+, Network+, MCSE, CCNA, and Office 365 may make you more competitive in the job market.

• Entry Level Cio

  Salary range: $40,500 - $52,000

  Entry-level jobs are positions that do not require any previous experience in the role. Most entry-level jobs are aimed at high school or college graduates as a starting point for a future career goal. A college student may have majored in their ideal career field, but will still need to start in an entry-level position to train in a real-world environment. Some students move from internships into entry-level jobs, but most entry-level jobs do not expect a candidate to have any prior employment or on-site training.