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As of October 2025, the average salary for a Cell Leader stands at $109,257 per year, or $53 per hour. This salary can vary significantly based on several factors, including location, industry, and years of experience. Cell leaders are responsible for managing production lines, leading teams, and ensuring the adherence to safety and quality protocols.
Entry-level cell leaders typically earn less than their seasoned counterparts, with salaries increasing as they gain experience and take on more responsibilities. Those in senior positions or specialized roles may see salaries exceeding the average, especially in high-demand industries.
Certain states offer higher average salaries for cell leaders. For instance, states with a robust manufacturing presence, such as California and Texas, often provide competitive compensation packages. Additionally, metropolitan areas with a higher cost of living generally pay more to attract skilled professionals.
Cell leaders can find opportunities in various sectors, from automotive to consumer electronics. With the right skills and experience, candidates can explore roles that not only offer attractive salaries but also career advancement potential.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level cell leader | $108,000 | $51.79 |
| Mid-level cell leader | $136,000 | $65.51 |
| Senior-level cell leader | $138,000 | $66.37 |
The average cell leader salary in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Maine are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average cell leader salary states are Alabama, Alaska, and Arkansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $146,688 | $70.52 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $139,021 | $66.84 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $124,847 | $60.02 |
| 4 | Maine | $136,337 | $65.55 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $134,446 | $64.64 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $139,832 | $67.23 |
| 7 | Michigan | $126,394 | $60.77 |
| 8 | Vermont | $126,227 | $60.69 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $134,234 | $64.54 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $134,950 | $64.88 |
| 11 | Nebraska | $109,284 | $52.54 |
| 12 | South Carolina | $123,650 | $59.45 |
| 13 | Ohio | $109,880 | $52.83 |
| 14 | Oregon | $108,151 | $52.00 |
| 15 | Delaware | $116,780 | $56.14 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $108,028 | $51.94 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $125,073 | $60.13 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $109,659 | $52.72 |
| 19 | California | $126,484 | $60.81 |
| 20 | Indiana | $104,562 | $50.27 |
| 21 | Iowa | $105,113 | $50.54 |
| 22 | Utah | $101,584 | $48.84 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $109,386 | $52.59 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $105,186 | $50.57 |
| 25 | Illinois | $108,225 | $52.03 |
| 26 | Washington | $106,751 | $51.32 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $108,517 | $52.17 |
| 28 | Nevada | $106,038 | $50.98 |
| 29 | New York | $112,947 | $54.30 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $97,532 | $46.89 |
| 31 | Texas | $99,952 | $48.05 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $106,363 | $51.14 |
| 33 | Kansas | $101,084 | $48.60 |
| 34 | Alaska | $92,190 | $44.32 |
| 35 | Maryland | $112,489 | $54.08 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $96,050 | $46.18 |
| 37 | Montana | $98,140 | $47.18 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $96,047 | $46.18 |
| 39 | Colorado | $107,819 | $51.84 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $95,455 | $45.89 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $90,872 | $43.69 |
| 42 | Alabama | $93,621 | $45.01 |
| 43 | Virginia | $101,733 | $48.91 |
| 44 | Idaho | $98,729 | $47.47 |
| 45 | Arizona | $98,572 | $47.39 |
| 46 | Missouri | $95,315 | $45.82 |
| 47 | Georgia | $97,375 | $46.81 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $95,136 | $45.74 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $91,147 | $43.82 |
| 50 | Florida | $73,699 | $35.43 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $69,414 | $33.37 |
The highest-paying cities for cell leaders are Cambridge, MA, East Hartford, CT, and Redwood City, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cambridge, MA | $149,027 | $71.65 |
| 2 | East Hartford, CT | $135,872 | $65.32 |
| 3 | Redwood City, CA | $135,590 | $65.19 |
| 4 | Pontiac, MI | $127,448 | $61.27 |
| 5 | Williston, ND | $121,991 | $58.65 |
| 6 | Bel Air South, MD | $113,017 | $54.34 |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | $112,035 | $53.86 |
| 8 | Coon Rapids, MN | $109,524 | $52.66 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $108,944 | $52.38 |
| 10 | Hillsboro, OR | $106,908 | $51.40 |
| 11 | Alexandria, VA | $102,705 | $49.38 |
| 12 | Salt Lake City, UT | $100,981 | $48.55 |
| 13 | Chandler, AZ | $98,437 | $47.33 |
| 14 | Huntsville, AL | $95,936 | $46.12 |
| 15 | Milwaukee, WI | $95,752 | $46.03 |
A cell leader's salary ranges from $68,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $173,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $173,000 | $14,417 | $83 |
| 75th Percentile | $139,000 | $11,583 | $67 |
| Average | $109,257 | $9,105 | $53 |
| 25th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
| 10th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
The highest paying types of cell leaders are lead person, section leader, and lead operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing Supervisor | $71,330 | $5,944 | $34.29 | 68,725 |
| Production Supervisor | $63,391 | $5,283 | $30.48 | 83,529 |
| 3rd Shift Supervisor | $32,932 | $2,744 | $15.83 | 129,192 |
| 2nd Shift Supervisor | $34,465 | $2,872 | $16.57 | 145,604 |
| Shift Production Supervisor | $35,127 | $2,927 | $16.89 | 132,563 |
| Planting Supervisor | $41,894 | $3,491 | $20.14 | 59,990 |
Top companies hiring cell leaders now:
Cell leader salaries at Novo Nordisk and Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average cell leader salary at companies like Intel and Koch Industries are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novo Nordisk | $159,675 | $76.77 |
| 2 | Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. | $139,930 | $67.27 |
| 3 | Intel | $139,114 | $66.88 |
| 4 | Koch Industries | $136,066 | $65.42 |
| 5 | General Mills | $127,460 | $61.28 |
| 6 | XALT Energy | $116,097 | $55.82 |
| 7 | ANSER | $115,634 | $55.59 |
| 8 | General Dynamics | $114,306 | $54.95 |
| 9 | Henkel | $107,083 | $51.48 |
| 10 | Integration Innovation | $106,951 | $51.42 |
| 11 | Conagra Brands | $106,258 | $51.09 |
| 12 | Leggett & Platt | $101,917 | $49.00 |
| 13 | Pall | $99,276 | $47.73 |
| 14 | Qualis | $97,666 | $46.95 |
| 15 | American Outdoor Brands | $96,773 | $46.53 |
| 16 | Thermo Fisher Scientific | $95,964 | $46.14 |
| 17 | Raytheon Technologies | $91,202 | $43.85 |
| 18 | Plastipak | $90,145 | $43.34 |
| 19 | Rivian | $89,097 | $42.84 |
| 20 | rms | $84,102 | $40.43 |
The average cell leader salary has risen by $15,959 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average cell leader earned $93,298 annually, but today, they earn $109,257 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for cell leaders over the last decade.
Compare cell leader salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare cell leader salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $109,000 | $52.53 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $107,000 | $51.24 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $105,000 | $50.50 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $102,000 | $49.20 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $100,000 | $48.29 | +2.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. | Work Cell Lead | Newark, CA | 06/26/2025 | $56,349 |
| Bay Advanced Technologies | Work Cell Lead | Newark, CA | 06/26/2025 | $56,349 |
| Cretex | Cell Lead II-NPI | Brooklyn Park, MN | 06/18/2025 | $51,465 |
| Meier Tool & Engineering | Cell Lead II-8Th Shift Molding | Brooklyn Park, MN | 06/18/2025 | $51,465 |
| Tat Technologies | Operations Cell Lead | Greensboro, NC | 06/14/2025 | $54,080 |
| GE Vernova | 7F Rotor Cell Leader | Richmond, VA | 06/12/2025 | $103,100 |
| Tat Technologies Ltd. | Operations Cell Lead | Greensboro, NC | 06/11/2025 | $54,080 |
| Nemera France Sas | Cell Leader (APU 3 C) | Buffalo Grove, IL | 06/10/2025 | $41,740 |
| J&J Family of Companies | Car-T Cell Therapy Experience Lead-South West | Horsham, PA | 06/07/2025 | $100,000 |
| Nemera | Cell Leader (APU 3 A) | Buffalo Grove, IL | 06/07/2025 | $41,740 |
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