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Leader salary
Average leader salary
$86,964
Average Leader Salary
The average salary for a Leader in the United States is $86,964 annually. This figure can vary based on several factors, including geographic location, industry, and level of experience. For instance, leaders in high-demand sectors such as technology and finance may earn significantly more than those in other fields.
How Much Does a Leader Make?
Entry-level leaders typically start around $60,000, while those with extensive experience can earn upwards of $120,000 or more. The salary also varies by state, with locations like California and New York often offering higher wages.
Where Can a Leader Earn More?
To maximize earnings, consider roles in states known for higher pay rates, such as Washington, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Understanding these dynamics can help you negotiate better salary packages.
Leader Salary Estimates from Across the Web
According to various sources, salary estimates reflect a range from $80,000 to $100,000, depending on the specific responsibilities and industry context. Researching salary trends can provide valuable insights into potential earnings.
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Where can a Leader earn more?
Leader salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level leader | $85,700 | $41.22 |
| Mid-level leader | $108,000 | $52.14 |
| Senior-level leader | $110,000 | $52.83 |
Leader salary estimates from across the web
Average leader salary by state
The average leader salary in Maine, Massachusetts, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average leader salary states are Colorado, Iowa, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for leaders
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $107,828 | $51.84 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $102,385 | $49.22 |
| 3 | Texas | $85,680 | $41.19 |
| 4 | Delaware | $98,258 | $47.24 |
| 5 | New York | $103,282 | $49.65 |
| 6 | Michigan | $89,516 | $43.04 |
| 7 | Ohio | $82,488 | $39.66 |
| 8 | Louisiana | $84,817 | $40.78 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $104,599 | $50.29 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $101,643 | $48.87 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $98,747 | $47.47 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $94,283 | $45.33 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $80,183 | $38.55 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $104,361 | $50.17 |
| 15 | California | $94,566 | $45.46 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $88,157 | $42.38 |
| 17 | Virginia | $82,458 | $39.64 |
| 18 | Maryland | $89,752 | $43.15 |
| 19 | Illinois | $83,416 | $40.10 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $79,934 | $38.43 |
| 21 | Alabama | $74,906 | $36.01 |
| 22 | Arizona | $81,652 | $39.26 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $74,207 | $35.68 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $82,111 | $39.48 |
| 25 | Indiana | $73,550 | $35.36 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $73,588 | $35.38 |
| 27 | Vermont | $80,545 | $38.72 |
| 28 | Georgia | $76,227 | $36.65 |
| 29 | Alaska | $93,599 | $45.00 |
| 30 | Washington | $83,241 | $40.02 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $70,285 | $33.79 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $77,479 | $37.25 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $69,711 | $33.51 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $67,769 | $32.58 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $76,793 | $36.92 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $76,552 | $36.80 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $66,743 | $32.09 |
| 38 | Nevada | $70,220 | $33.76 |
| 39 | Florida | $73,323 | $35.25 |
| 40 | Missouri | $68,353 | $32.86 |
| 41 | Kansas | $65,466 | $31.47 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $64,087 | $30.81 |
| 43 | Oregon | $72,919 | $35.06 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $68,797 | $33.08 |
| 45 | Iowa | $62,998 | $30.29 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $62,774 | $30.18 |
| 47 | Idaho | $64,590 | $31.05 |
| 48 | Colorado | $63,949 | $30.74 |
| 49 | Montana | $60,758 | $29.21 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $61,656 | $29.64 |
| 51 | Utah | $53,190 | $25.57 |
Highest paying cities for leaders
The highest-paying cities for leaders are Portland, ME, Washington, DC, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, ME | $108,922 | $52.37 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $105,082 | $50.52 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $104,649 | $50.31 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $103,452 | $49.74 |
| 5 | Hartford, CT | $102,581 | $49.32 |
| 6 | Jersey City, NJ | $102,181 | $49.13 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $99,542 | $47.86 |
| 8 | Wilmington, DE | $99,093 | $47.64 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $90,472 | $43.50 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $89,874 | $43.21 |
| 11 | San Antonio, TX | $89,464 | $43.01 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $88,998 | $42.79 |
| 13 | Arlington, VA | $85,890 | $41.29 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $84,539 | $40.64 |
| 15 | Seattle, WA | $84,466 | $40.61 |
| 16 | Minneapolis, MN | $82,088 | $39.47 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $81,837 | $39.34 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $80,878 | $38.88 |
| 19 | Milwaukee, WI | $80,276 | $38.59 |
| 20 | Columbus, GA | $75,943 | $36.51 |
Leaders are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Leader salary details
A leader's salary ranges from $49,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $153,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a leader's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $153,000 | $12,750 | $74 |
| 75th Percentile | $117,000 | $9,750 | $56 |
| Average | $86,964 | $7,247 | $42 |
| 25th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| 10th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
Highest paying leader jobs
The highest paying types of leaders are co-leader, senior leader, and cell leader.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operations Team Leader | $55,160 | $4,597 | $26.52 | 179,669 |
| Team Leader/Trainer | $43,044 | $3,587 | $20.69 | 141,734 |
| Recreation Leader | $30,040 | $2,503 | $14.44 | 35,684 |
| Activities Leader | $30,329 | $2,527 | $14.58 | 35,544 |
| Production Leader | $44,563 | $3,714 | $21.42 | 107,578 |
| Process Leader | $88,400 | $7,367 | $42.50 | 71,467 |
Top companies hiring leaders now:
Which companies pay leaders the most?
Leader salaries at Eli Lilly and Company and Biogen are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average leader salary at companies like Novartis and AbbVie are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eli Lilly and Company | $185,069 | $88.98 |
| 2 | Biogen | $184,602 | $88.75 |
| 3 | Novartis | $184,135 | $88.53 |
| 4 | AbbVie | $180,658 | $86.85 |
| 5 | Bristol-Myers Squibb | $177,084 | $85.14 |
| 6 | AstraZeneca | $175,872 | $84.55 |
| 7 | Genentech | $170,711 | $82.07 |
| 8 | Levi Strauss & Co. | $158,876 | $76.38 |
| 9 | University of Maryland Medical System | $155,334 | $74.68 |
| 10 | Roku | $153,976 | $74.03 |
| 11 | BP America Inc | $153,168 | $73.64 |
| 12 | Apple | $152,585 | $73.36 |
| 13 | ZS | $152,270 | $73.21 |
| 14 | UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital | $147,908 | $71.11 |
| 15 | Gillette | $146,342 | $70.36 |
| 16 | Bayer | $146,203 | $70.29 |
| 17 | Boston Consulting Group | $144,090 | $69.27 |
| 18 | Abbott | $141,494 | $68.03 |
| 19 | NVIDIA | $140,752 | $67.67 |
| 20 | Meta | $140,595 | $67.59 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Leader salary trends
The average leader salary has risen by $12,702 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average leader earned $74,262 annually, but today, they earn $86,964 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for leaders over the last decade.
Compare leader salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average leader salary over time
Compare leader salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Leader salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $87,000 | $41.81 | +2.5% |
| 2025 | $84,800 | $40.79 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | $83,600 | $40.19 | +2.6% |
| 2023 | $81,500 | $39.16 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $79,900 | $38.44 | +2.5% |
Recently added leader salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valet Waste | Area Leader | Fairfax, VA | 06/30/2025 | $52,175 |
| Valet Waste | Area Leader | Portland, OR | 06/30/2025 | $49,045 |
| Valet Waste | Area Leader | Baltimore, MD | 06/30/2025 | $48,001 |
| Arcadis | Rail and Transit Discipline Leader | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $150,000 |
| Lucid Motors | Market Leader | Denver, CO | 06/29/2025 | $130,000 |
| Northstar Buick GMC Inc. | Detail/Lot Leader | Zelienople, PA | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Belmont Village | Enrichment Leader | Texas City, TX | 06/28/2025 | $45,914 |
| Raising Canes Chicken | Restaurant Leader | Houston, TX | 06/28/2025 | $60,000 |
| Raising Canes Chicken | Restaurant Leader | Bellevue, NE | 06/28/2025 | $60,000 |
| Raising Canes Chicken | Restaurant Leader | Berwyn Heights, MD | 06/28/2025 | $65,000 |
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