CTO+18% typical comp change · ~4.5y typical
84% of observed moves out of VP of Engineering go here (230 careers)
executive stepconfidence moderate230 careersno observed onward moves above the evidence floor
Observed career paths · leadership
Where does a VP of Engineering go next?
3 observed directions, from real career histories. Percentages are the share of people who made each move; the count is how many careers each number rests on. This is the generic map. No aspiration, no filler.
Management path
Specialist path
Chief Product Officer+24% typical comp change · ~9.3y typical
reachable via VP of Product. 16% joint share of observed careers
executive stepconfidence low45 careersno observed onward moves above the evidence floor
Adjacent career
VP of Product+2% typical comp change · ~4.7y typical
16% of observed moves out of VP of Engineering go here (45 careers)
lateralconfidence low45 careers100% of observed exits move upward from there