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The average salary for a Shift Leader stands at $33,841 per year or about $16 per hour. This figure can vary significantly depending on factors such as location, industry, and experience. For example, Shift Leaders in high-demand sectors like retail may earn more than those in other fields.
States such as California and Texas offer higher salary ranges for Shift Leaders, making them attractive locations for job seekers. In California, the average salary can exceed $40,000, while Texas provides competitive compensation around $37,000. Additionally, Shift Leaders with several years of experience may see their earnings increase significantly.
When considering a career as a Shift Leader, it’s essential to research specific job markets and industries to maximize earning potential.
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The highest-paying states for shift leaders are Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Washington. The lowest average shift leader salary states are Missouri, Utah, and South Carolina.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $40,935 | $19.68 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $35,386 | $17.01 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $38,934 | $18.72 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $39,457 | $18.97 |
| 5 | Washington | $38,980 | $18.74 |
| 6 | Maine | $34,471 | $16.57 |
| 7 | Michigan | $32,272 | $15.52 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $34,381 | $16.53 |
| 9 | Vermont | $35,490 | $17.06 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $33,619 | $16.16 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $37,922 | $18.23 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $31,549 | $15.17 |
| 13 | Alaska | $34,768 | $16.72 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $31,167 | $14.98 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $34,657 | $16.66 |
| 16 | Oregon | $34,473 | $16.57 |
| 17 | New York | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| 18 | Delaware | $34,942 | $16.80 |
| 19 | California | $38,115 | $18.32 |
| 20 | Iowa | $29,756 | $14.31 |
| 21 | Indiana | $29,364 | $14.12 |
| 22 | Virginia | $31,969 | $15.37 |
| 23 | Arizona | $31,898 | $15.34 |
| 24 | Ohio | $28,839 | $13.86 |
| 25 | Nevada | $31,743 | $15.26 |
| 26 | Colorado | $33,701 | $16.20 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $28,428 | $13.67 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $28,065 | $13.49 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $35,045 | $16.85 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $27,376 | $13.16 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $34,048 | $16.37 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $30,874 | $14.84 |
| 33 | Montana | $30,784 | $14.80 |
| 34 | Maryland | $31,159 | $14.98 |
| 35 | Illinois | $29,738 | $14.30 |
| 36 | Texas | $28,851 | $13.87 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $28,158 | $13.54 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $28,971 | $13.93 |
| 39 | Kansas | $27,602 | $13.27 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $27,242 | $13.10 |
| 41 | Florida | $28,171 | $13.54 |
| 42 | Idaho | $29,954 | $14.40 |
| 43 | Missouri | $26,989 | $12.98 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $27,507 | $13.22 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $25,672 | $12.34 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $28,429 | $13.67 |
| 47 | Georgia | $27,041 | $13.00 |
| 48 | Alabama | $24,866 | $11.95 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $25,973 | $12.49 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $24,936 | $11.99 |
| 51 | Utah | $26,576 | $12.78 |
The highest-paying cities for shift leaders are Boston, MA, Richmond, CA, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $40,980 | $19.70 |
| 2 | Richmond, CA | $39,377 | $18.93 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $39,288 | $18.89 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $36,477 | $17.54 |
| 5 | Saint Paul, MN | $35,372 | $17.01 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $35,076 | $16.86 |
| 7 | Portland, ME | $34,520 | $16.60 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $34,429 | $16.55 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $34,362 | $16.52 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $33,686 | $16.20 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $31,983 | $15.38 |
| 12 | Richmond, VA | $31,899 | $15.34 |
| 13 | Las Vegas, NV | $31,595 | $15.19 |
| 14 | Madison, WI | $30,903 | $14.86 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $29,874 | $14.36 |
| 16 | Richmond, IN | $29,397 | $14.13 |
| 17 | San Antonio, TX | $29,317 | $14.09 |
| 18 | Jacksonville, FL | $28,549 | $13.73 |
| 19 | Albuquerque, NM | $28,530 | $13.72 |
| 20 | Columbus, OH | $28,512 | $13.71 |
Shift Leaders are the most in-demand in these five cities:
A shift leader's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $43,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 75th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| Average | $33,841 | $2,820 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
The highest paying types of shift leaders are leader, team leader, and sales leader.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew Manager | $33,856 | $2,821 | $16.28 | 221,986 |
| Lead Crew Member | $32,857 | $2,738 | $15.80 | 152,202 |
| Team Leader/Trainer | $43,044 | $3,587 | $20.69 | 141,734 |
| Swing Manager | $38,427 | $3,202 | $18.47 | 203,761 |
| Kitchen Lead | $35,678 | $2,973 | $17.15 | 56,300 |
| Customer Service Leader | $33,791 | $2,816 | $16.25 | 301,338 |
Top companies hiring shift leaders now:
Shift leader salaries at IBM and Dairy Farmers of America are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average shift leader salary at companies like Stanford University and Reser's Fine Foods are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IBM | $44,423 | $21.36 |
| 2 | Dairy Farmers of America | $44,347 | $21.32 |
| 3 | Stanford University | $44,285 | $21.29 |
| 4 | Reser's Fine Foods | $43,685 | $21.00 |
| 5 | BD | $43,479 | $20.90 |
| 6 | JBS USA | $42,976 | $20.66 |
| 7 | Nation Pizza | $42,683 | $20.52 |
| 8 | Steel Dynamics | $42,619 | $20.49 |
| 9 | Bunge | $42,162 | $20.27 |
| 10 | Martin Marietta | $41,828 | $20.11 |
| 11 | Medical University of South Carolina | $41,647 | $20.02 |
| 12 | American Woodmark | $41,595 | $20.00 |
| 13 | ABB | $41,511 | $19.96 |
| 14 | Accenture | $41,400 | $19.90 |
| 15 | Owens Corning | $41,330 | $19.87 |
| 16 | Pactiv | $41,298 | $19.85 |
| 17 | U.S. Venture | $41,259 | $19.84 |
| 18 | O-I Glass | $41,201 | $19.81 |
| 19 | General Electric | $41,108 | $19.76 |
| 20 | HCL Technologies | $40,957 | $19.69 |
The average shift leader salary has risen by $4,914 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average shift leader earned $28,927 annually, but today, they earn $33,841 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for shift leaders over the last decade.
Compare shift leader salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare shift leader salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $33,800 | $16.27 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | $32,700 | $15.72 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $31,800 | $15.27 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $31,300 | $15.04 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $30,800 | $14.82 | +3.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wegmans Food Markets | Shift Leader | Leesburg, VA | 06/30/2025 | $43,827 |
| Einstein Bros. Bagels | Shift Leader | Cedar Lake, IN | 06/30/2025 | $30,408 |
| Einstein Bros. Bagels | Shift Leader | Los Angeles, CA | 06/30/2025 | $41,740 |
| Einstein Bros. Bagels | District Shift Leader | Ellicott City, MD | 06/30/2025 | $30,408 |
| Einstein Bros. Bagels | District Shift Leader | Las Vegas, NV | 06/30/2025 | $24,355 |
| Einstein Bros. Bagels | District Shift Leader | Columbus, OH | 06/30/2025 | $24,355 |
| Einstein Bros. Bagels | Shift Leader | Rochester, NY | 06/30/2025 | $30,408 |
| Einstein Bros. Bagels | Shift Leader | Boston, MA | 06/30/2025 | $30,408 |
| Einstein Bros. Bagels | Shift Leader | Denver, CO | 06/30/2025 | $30,408 |
| Einstein Bros. Bagels | Shift Leader | Minneapolis, MN | 06/30/2025 | $26,609 |
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