Research Summary. In 2026, the labor landscape continues to evolve, and the Zippia data science team has updated its findings on shift leader salaries across the United States:
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Massachusetts remains the state with the highest shift leader salary, averaging $40,935
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Alabama continues to offer the lowest shift leader salary at $24,866
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The national average salary for shift leaders is now $33,841
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National hourly pay for shift leaders is $16.27
For further details, explore our methodology.
Background
Surveys consistently show that salary is the most crucial factor for job seekers across various demographics. Potential shift leaders often ask, “What can I expect to earn in my area?”
While individual circumstances can vary, the data we present here reflects average salaries for shift leaders by state, taking into account factors such as seniority. Even if your city’s salary differs slightly from the state average, these figures provide a helpful benchmark.
As of 2026, Massachusetts continues to lead in shift leader salaries.
Below is a snapshot of the top states for shift leader salaries:
Let’s examine the full ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Shift Leaders By State
| Rank | State | Average Shift Leader Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $40,935 | $31,000 | $52,000 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $39,457 | $30,000 | $51,000 |
| 3 | Washington | $38,980 | $29,000 | $50,000 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $38,934 | $29,000 | $50,000 |
| 5 | California | $38,115 | $28,000 | $50,000 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $37,922 | $29,000 | $49,000 |
| 7 | New York | $36,610 | $28,000 | $47,000 |
| 8 | Vermont | $35,490 | $27,000 | $45,000 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $35,386 | $27,000 | $45,000 |
| 10 | Delaware | $34,942 | $26,000 | $45,000 |
| 11 | Alaska | $34,768 | $28,000 | $42,000 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $34,657 | $26,000 | $44,000 |
| 13 | Oregon | $34,473 | $26,000 | $45,000 |
| 14 | Maine | $34,471 | $27,000 | $43,000 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $34,381 | $26,000 | $44,000 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $34,048 | $26,000 | $43,000 |
| 17 | Colorado | $33,701 | $25,000 | $43,000 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $33,619 | $26,000 | $43,000 |
| 19 | Michigan | $32,272 | $24,000 | $41,000 |
| 20 | Virginia | $31,969 | $24,000 | $41,000 |
| 21 | Arizona | $31,898 | $24,000 | $42,000 |
| 22 | Nevada | $31,743 | $23,000 | $42,000 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $31,549 | $24,000 | $40,000 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $31,167 | $24,000 | $40,000 |
| 25 | Maryland | $31,159 | $23,000 | $40,000 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $30,874 | $23,000 | $39,000 |
| 27 | Montana | $30,784 | $23,000 | $39,000 |
| 28 | Idaho | $29,954 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 29 | Iowa | $29,756 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 30 | Illinois | $29,738 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 31 | Indiana | $29,364 | $22,000 | $37,000 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $28,971 | $22,000 | $37,000 |
| 33 | Texas | $28,851 | $21,000 | $38,000 |
| 34 | Ohio | $28,839 | $22,000 | $37,000 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $28,429 | $21,000 | $37,000 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $28,428 | $21,000 | $37,000 |
| 37 | Florida | $28,171 | $21,000 | $37,000 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $28,158 | $21,000 | $36,000 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $28,065 | $21,000 | $36,000 |
| 40 | Kansas | $27,602 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $27,507 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $27,376 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $27,242 | $20,000 | $35,000 |
| 44 | Georgia | $27,041 | $20,000 | $35,000 |
| 45 | Missouri | $26,989 | $20,000 | $35,000 |
| 46 | Utah | $26,576 | $20,000 | $34,000 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $25,973 | $19,000 | $33,000 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $25,672 | $19,000 | $33,000 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $24,936 | $19,000 | $32,000 |
| 50 | Alabama | $24,866 | $19,000 | $32,000 |
Methodology: Shift Leader Salary By State
To analyze shift leader salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. We augment this data with real salary figures from job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average to determine the average salary for shift leaders by state.
The average annual salary data for shift leaders is ranked by state, with the highest salary indicating the best compensation for shift leaders.
Shift Leader Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for shift leaders?
The highest-paid state for shift leaders is Massachusetts, offering an average salary of $40,935 per year.
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What city pays shift leaders the most?
Boston, MA offers the highest average salary for shift leaders at $40,980 per year.
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What is the worst state for shift leaders?
The lowest-paying state for shift leaders is Alabama, with an average salary of $24,866 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
