The right Chief of Staff is a force multiplier for a founder. The wrong one is an expensive distraction. Underdog.io delivers pre-screened, full-time operators with the BizOps, strategy, and startup experience a great CoS hire demands — directly to your inbox every Monday. No retained search. No agency markup.
The challenge with this hire
The role is uniquely high-trust, poorly defined, and almost never found through a job posting. The right candidate rarely has "Chief of Staff" on their resume. And the stakes of getting it wrong are higher than almost any other hire — because this person sits at the center of everything.
The best CoS candidates come from BizOps, consulting, and early startup operator roles — not from "Chief of Staff" title searches. Most hiring managers don't know where to look.
Executive search firms charge 25–33% of first-year salary — often $40–60K — as a retained fee before you've interviewed a single person. And they specialize in enterprise, not startups.
A CoS works closer to the founder than almost anyone else in the company. Skills matter less than chemistry, trust, and alignment on how you operate. Resumes alone can't tell you that.
Underdog screens for operator background, not titles. We've built a network of startup operators — with BizOps, strategy, consulting, and early-team experience — who are actively looking for their next CoS or high-leverage leadership role. You get a curated shortlist. You only pay if you hire.
Hiring guide
The CoS role is uniquely shaped by the executive it supports. But across all strong CoS hires, the same traits show up — regardless of background or title.
When to hire a Chief of Staff
How it works
No sourcing sprints, no agency calls, no retained search contracts. A curated shortlist of pre-vetted operators delivered directly to you each week — ready to interview.
Tell us about your company stage, your operating style, and what you need your CoS to own in the first 90 days. Takes 15 minutes. We use it to filter candidates for fit — not just skills.
Every Monday, we introduce you to a curated batch of operators who match your criteria. They've been hand-reviewed, they're actively exploring, and they already know about your company before the first conversation.
Request interviews directly through the platform. We handle the introduction — you handle building the relationship. No agency sitting in the middle. No markup on every message.
2025 salary guide
CoS compensation at startups varies significantly by stage. Here's a realistic breakdown — plus what executive search firms charge vs. what Underdog charges.
Sources: Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, Ask a Chief of Staff 2024 Salary Report, Exactimo.
* Underdog.io placement fee at 11.5% of first-year base salary. No retainer. No exclusivity. Pay only when you hire.
How we compare
There are a handful of ways to hire a Chief of Staff. Here's an honest look at what each approach actually costs — in time, money, and quality.
Companies in the network
Every company in our network has been reviewed and approved. No staffing firms. No agencies. Just growing startups who need great operators.
Pricing
A retained executive search firm charges 25–33% of first-year salary — often $40K+ before your first interview. Underdog is different in every way.
Common questions
Ready to hire
Pre-vetted operators with the background, mindset, and startup experience a great CoS hire demands. Introduced directly to you — no agency, no retainer, no wasted interviews.
Start hiring your Chief of Staff →