Communications lead salary

Q: How much does a communications lead make?

The average communications lead salary in the United States is $96,988. Communications lead salaries typically range between $67,000 and $139,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for communications leads is $46.63 per hour. Communications lead salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. Communications leads earn the highest average salary in California.

Q: What state pays Communications Leads the most?

California pays Communications Leads the most in the United States, with an average salary of $122,911 per year, or $59.09 per hour.

Q: How do I know if I'm being paid fairly as a communications lead?

You know if you are being paid fairly as a communications lead if your pay is close to the average pay for the state you live in. For example, if you live in Pennsylvania you should be paid close to $109,463 per year.

Q: How much does a communications lead make?

A communication lead makes about $76,000 a year, on average. This translates to about $36 an hour. Salaries can vary greatly, though, with the bottom ten percent making less than $43,000 a year and top-earners making over $130,000 a year.

Q: Is communications a high-paying major?

Yes, communications can be a high-paying major. However, it depends greatly on the kind of position you land once you graduate. Communications directors of all types, whether they be focused on social media, public relations, or marketing, can earn well over $100,000 a year.

Q: What is the average pay for a sales lead?

The average pay for a sales lead is $58,593 a year. However, this amount can vary from $23,000 to $173,000 a year. Factors such as experience, location, and company types determine how much a sales lead can make.

Quoted expert

Michael Riecke

Average communications lead salary

$96,988

$46.63 hourly rate

Entry-level communications lead salary

$67,000 yearly salary

Updated December 15, 2025

Understanding the Communications Lead Salary

The average salary for a Communications Lead as of October 2025 is $96,988 annually. This figure can vary significantly based on geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry. For instance, professionals in high-demand markets may command higher salaries due to increased competition for skilled communication specialists.

Salary by State

Communications Leads in states such as California and New York often see higher wages than their counterparts in other regions. Understanding these geographic differences is crucial for job seekers aiming to maximize their compensation.

Experience Levels Matter

Entry-level positions typically start lower, while experienced professionals can see salaries well above the average. By focusing on continuous professional development and gaining relevant skills, individuals can position themselves for higher-paying roles in this field.

Career Path Opportunities

In addition to traditional roles, Communications Leads can explore opportunities in specialized sectors, enhancing their earning potential. Utilizing job boards like Zippia can help candidates find roles that align with their career goals and salary expectations.

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Communications lead salary by:

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Where can a Communications Lead earn more?

Compare salary by location

149k

129k

109k

89k

69k

49k

Columbus, OH$133,744

Columbus, OH$78,983

Compare salary by company

193k

173k

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133k

113k

93k

Meta$167,376

Micron Technology$123,139

Communications lead salaries by experience level

Experience level	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
Entry-level communications lead	$85,000	$40.88
Mid-level communications lead	$91,100	$43.78
Senior-level communications lead	$109,000	$52.61

Communications lead salary estimates from across the web

Based on the latest salary information compiled by Zippia, Salary.com and Payscale, the average salary for a communications lead typically falls between $79,169 and $106,666.

zippia

$96,988yearly

Salary.com[1]

$106,666yearly

payscale[2]

$79,169yearly

Average communications lead salary by state

The average communications lead salary in California, Pennsylvania, and Arizona are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average communications lead salary states are Mississippi, Iowa, and Kansas.

State view
County view

Average salary:

Highest paying states for communications leads

Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	California	$122,911	$59.09
2	Nevada	$92,381	$44.41
3	Arizona	$108,448	$52.14
4	Pennsylvania	$109,463	$52.63
5	New York	$98,915	$47.56
6	New Jersey	$105,374	$50.66
7	Oregon	$99,940	$48.05
8	Rhode Island	$94,727	$45.54
9	West Virginia	$95,733	$46.03
10	Connecticut	$98,973	$47.58
11	Virginia	$93,084	$44.75
12	Texas	$95,243	$45.79
13	Tennessee	$96,548	$46.42
14	Washington	$91,432	$43.96
15	Indiana	$91,921	$44.19
16	Wyoming	$82,078	$39.46
17	Kentucky	$90,157	$43.34
18	District of Columbia	$90,829	$43.67
19	Maryland	$91,012	$43.76
20	Minnesota	$89,714	$43.13
21	North Carolina	$86,373	$41.53
22	Maine	$83,472	$40.13
23	Delaware	$82,757	$39.79
24	Idaho	$77,974	$37.49
25	Illinois	$86,987	$41.82
26	New Mexico	$77,967	$37.48
27	Utah	$81,888	$39.37
28	Wisconsin	$84,673	$40.71
29	Alaska	$78,067	$37.53
30	Georgia	$84,248	$40.50
31	Vermont	$77,360	$37.19
32	Montana	$74,133	$35.64
33	South Dakota	$71,617	$34.43
34	Louisiana	$78,617	$37.80
35	Michigan	$77,031	$37.03
36	Hawaii	$74,974	$36.05
37	South Carolina	$80,818	$38.85
38	Ohio	$78,781	$37.88
39	Massachusetts	$78,513	$37.75
40	New Hampshire	$75,079	$36.10
41	North Dakota	$70,513	$33.90
42	Arkansas	$67,784	$32.59
43	Kansas	$68,561	$32.96
44	Colorado	$74,574	$35.85
45	Oklahoma	$66,252	$31.85
46	Nebraska	$65,102	$31.30
47	Mississippi	$70,224	$33.76
48	Florida	$75,757	$36.42
49	Alabama	$70,850	$34.06
50	Iowa	$70,070	$33.69
51	Missouri	$71,697	$34.47

Top communications lead jobs near you

Highest paying cities for communications leads

The highest-paying cities for communications leads are San Francisco, CA, Philadelphia, PA, and Glendale, AZ.

Rank	City	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	San Francisco, CA	$133,744	$64.30
2	Philadelphia, PA	$110,187	$52.97
3	Glendale, AZ	$109,024	$52.42
4	Jersey City, NJ	$105,308	$50.63
5	New York, NY	$99,453	$47.81
6	Portland, OR	$98,925	$47.56
7	Hartford, CT	$97,909	$47.07
8	Austin, TX	$96,398	$46.35
9	Arlington, VA	$93,392	$44.90
10	Seattle, WA	$92,384	$44.42
11	Indianapolis, IN	$92,263	$44.36
12	Annapolis, MD	$91,309	$43.90
13	Washington, DC	$90,914	$43.71
14	Minneapolis, MN	$89,754	$43.15
15	Chicago, IL	$87,563	$42.10
16	Wilmington, NC	$86,552	$41.61
17	Atlanta, GA	$84,151	$40.46
18	Wilmington, DE	$82,736	$39.78
19	Salt Lake City, UT	$81,008	$38.95
20	Columbus, OH	$78,983	$37.97

Communications lead salary details

A communications lead's salary ranges from $67,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $139,000 at the 90th percentile.

Average communications lead salary graph, trends, and summary

What is a communications lead's salary?

Percentile	Annual salary	Monthly salary	Hourly rate
90th Percentile	$139,000	$11,583	$67
75th Percentile	$117,000	$9,750	$56
Average	$96,988	$8,082	$47
25th Percentile	$80,000	$6,667	$38
10th Percentile	$67,000	$5,583	$32

Highest paying communications lead jobs

The highest paying types of communications leads are director of public affairs, media director, and communications director.

Job title	Annual salary	Monthly salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
Media Director	$112,564	$9,380	$54.12	22,511
Director Of Public Affairs	$114,639	$9,553	$55.11	26,290
Public Information Officer	$56,725	$4,727	$27.27	129,237
Public Relations Director	$94,692	$7,891	$45.52	31,693
Public Relations Manager	$91,426	$7,619	$43.95	35,273
Manager Of Corporate Communications	$84,161	$7,013	$40.46	34,908

How would you rate the starting salaries for communications leads, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?

Michael Riecke

Assistant Professor, State University of New York at Oswego

Starting salaries in the field of media and communication are generally lower than most entry-level professional positions. It's partially a matter of supply and demand. I think young professionals perceive media and communication careers as more glamorous and exciting than other paths. As a result, employers often find themselves with plenty of resumes to sift through. As you advance through your career, you can expect moderate to substantial salary growth.

They may not openly admit it, but many employers see the first job as a test of who has the stamina, talent, and passion for succeeding. If a new employee puts in the effort, doesn't balk at long hours, and gets the job done well without a sizeable financial reward, it's generally interpreted by the employer as a sign of commitment. That display of commitment typically gets rewarded.

Top companies hiring communications leads now:

Which companies pay communications leads the most?

Communications lead salaries at Meta and Boston Consulting Group are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average communications lead salary at companies like Arc Aspicio and Lyft are highly competitive.

Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate
1	Meta	$167,376	$80.47
2	Boston Consulting Group	$159,841	$76.85
3	Arc Aspicio	$152,454	$73.30
4	Lyft	$152,390	$73.26
5	Apple	$146,540	$70.45
6	Latham & Watkins	$145,137	$69.78
7	Citi	$141,625	$68.09
8	Koch Industries	$137,078	$65.90
9	Microsoft	$135,411	$65.10
10	Barclays	$135,111	$64.96
11	AstraZeneca	$133,261	$64.07
12	BNY Mellon	$132,059	$63.49
13	Abt Associates	$130,434	$62.71
14	Amazon	$128,278	$61.67
15	J.P. Morgan	$127,604	$61.35
16	Accenture	$127,529	$61.31
17	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$127,091	$61.10
18	Stryker	$124,117	$59.67
19	Capco	$123,612	$59.43
20	Micron Technology	$123,139	$59.20

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$99,000$98,000$97,000$96,000$95,000$94,000

MaleFemale

Communications Lead salary by industry

The average communications lead salary varies across industries:

The average communications lead salary in the internet industry is $125,151, the highest of any industry.
The average communications lead salary in the finance industry is $117,263.
Communications leads in the education industry earn an average salary of $69,922, the lowest of any industry.

Highest paying industries for communications leads

Rank	Industry	Average salary	Hourly rate
1	Internet	$125,151	$60.17
2	Technology	$117,263	$56.38
3	Finance	$109,485	$52.64
4	Professional	$105,312	$50.63
5	Manufacturing	$101,242	$48.67
6	Transportation	$87,424	$42.03
7	Health Care	$86,393	$41.54
8	Education	$69,922	$33.62

High paying communications lead jobs

Communications lead salary trends

The average communications lead salary has risen by $15,245 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average communications lead earned $81,743 annually, but today, they earn $96,988 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for communications leads over the last decade.

Compare communications lead salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average communications lead salary over time

Compare communications lead salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Communications lead salary by year

Year	Avg. salary	Hourly rate	% Change
2026	$97,000	$46.63	+3.5%
2025	$93,600	$44.99	+2.7%
2024	$91,000	$43.76	+1.9%
2023	$89,300	$42.94	-0.9%
2022	$90,100	$43.33	+1.8%

Recently added communications lead salaries

Company	Job	Location	Date added	Salary
Spacex	Communications Lead (Starlink)	Hawthorne, CA	06/29/2025	$90,000
Fuller Theological	Tenx10 Community & Communications Lead	Pasadena, CA	06/29/2025	$60,210
Liberty Mutual	Enterprise Data Engagement & Communications Leader	Plano, TX	06/28/2025	$108,000
Liberty Mutual	Enterprise Data Engagement & Communications Leader	Portsmouth, NH	06/28/2025	$108,000
Liberty Mutual	Enterprise Data Engagement & Communications Leader	Boston, MA	06/28/2025	$108,000
Liberty Mutual	Enterprise Data Engagement & Communications Leader	Columbus, OH	06/28/2025	$108,000
Liberty Mutual	Enterprise Data Engagement & Communications Leader	Seattle, WA	06/28/2025	$108,000
Liberty Mutual	Enterprise Data Engagement & Communications Leader	New York, NY	06/28/2025	$108,000
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd.	Neuroscience Communications Lead (Director)	Boston, MA	06/28/2025	$174,500
Dsfederal	*Communications Lead	Washington, DC	06/28/2025	$100,000