Post job

Shift leader salary

Average shift leader salary

$16.27

$33,841 yearly

Entry-level shift leader salary
$26,000 yearly salary
Updated December 15, 2025

Average Shift Leader Salary

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.

Where Can a Shift Leader Earn More?

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.

Salary Estimates from Across the Web

  • Glassdoor reports a salary range of $28,000 to $45,000.
  • Indeed lists average salaries around $34,000.
  • Payscale highlights the impact of experience, noting that seasoned Shift Leaders can command higher wages.

When considering a career as a Shift Leader, it’s essential to research specific job markets and industries to maximize earning potential.

On this page
Shift leader salary by: 

Let Zippia find your next shift leader job

Floating question marks illustration

Let Zippia find your next shift leader job

Floating question marks illustration

Where can a Shift Leader earn more?

Compare salary by location
Vs
59k
39k
19k
-1k
Columbus, OH$40,980
Columbus, OH$28,512
Compare salary by company
Vs
71k
51k
31k
11k
IBM$44,423
HCL Technologies$40,957

Shift leader salaries by experience level

Shift leader salary estimates from across the web

Based on the latest salary information compiled by Zippia, Salary.com, Glassdoor, SalaryExpert and Comparably, the average salary for a shift leader typically falls between $25,302 and $50,000.
zippia
$33,841yearly
glassdoor[1]
$50,000yearly
comparably[2]
$39,248yearly
Salary.com[3]
$25,302yearly
SalaryExpert[4]
$38,481yearly

Average shift leader salary by state

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.

  • State view
  • County view
Average salary:

Highest paying states for shift leaders

RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Massachusetts$40,935$19.68
2Minnesota$35,386$17.01
3Connecticut$38,934$18.72
4Rhode Island$39,457$18.97
5Washington$38,980$18.74
6Maine$34,471$16.57
7Michigan$32,272$15.52
8Pennsylvania$34,381$16.53
9Vermont$35,490$17.06
10North Dakota$33,619$16.16
11New Jersey$37,922$18.23
12Wyoming$31,549$15.17
13Alaska$34,768$16.72
14Wisconsin$31,167$14.98
15New Hampshire$34,657$16.66
16Oregon$34,473$16.57
17New York$36,610$17.60
18Delaware$34,942$16.80
19California$38,115$18.32
20Iowa$29,756$14.31
21Indiana$29,364$14.12
22Virginia$31,969$15.37
23Arizona$31,898$15.34
24Ohio$28,839$13.86
25Nevada$31,743$15.26
26Colorado$33,701$16.20
27North Carolina$28,428$13.67
28Tennessee$28,065$13.49
29District of Columbia$35,045$16.85
30Kentucky$27,376$13.16
31Hawaii$34,048$16.37
32South Dakota$30,874$14.84
33Montana$30,784$14.80
34Maryland$31,159$14.98
35Illinois$29,738$14.30
36Texas$28,851$13.87
37West Virginia$28,158$13.54
38Nebraska$28,971$13.93
39Kansas$27,602$13.27
40Louisiana$27,242$13.10
41Florida$28,171$13.54
42Idaho$29,954$14.40
43Missouri$26,989$12.98
44Oklahoma$27,507$13.22
45Mississippi$25,672$12.34
46New Mexico$28,429$13.67
47Georgia$27,041$13.00
48Alabama$24,866$11.95
49South Carolina$25,973$12.49
50Arkansas$24,936$11.99
51Utah$26,576$12.78

Highest paying cities for shift leaders

The highest-paying cities for shift leaders are Boston, MA, Richmond, CA, and Seattle, WA.

RankCityAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Boston, MA$40,980$19.70
2Richmond, CA$39,377$18.93
3Seattle, WA$39,288$18.89
4New York, NY$36,477$17.54
5Saint Paul, MN$35,372$17.01
6Washington, DC$35,076$16.86
7Portland, ME$34,520$16.60
8Philadelphia, PA$34,429$16.55
9Portland, OR$34,362$16.52
10Denver, CO$33,686$16.20
11Phoenix, AZ$31,983$15.38
12Richmond, VA$31,899$15.34
13Las Vegas, NV$31,595$15.19
14Madison, WI$30,903$14.86
15Chicago, IL$29,874$14.36
16Richmond, IN$29,397$14.13
17San Antonio, TX$29,317$14.09
18Jacksonville, FL$28,549$13.73
19Albuquerque, NM$28,530$13.72
20Columbus, OH$28,512$13.71

Shift Leaders are the most in-demand in these five cities:

  1. Boston, MA
  2. Richmond, CA
  3. Seattle, WA
  4. New York, NY
  5. Saint Paul, MN

Shift leader salary details

A shift leader's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $43,000 at the 90th percentile.

Average shift leader salary graph
Average shift leader salary graph, trends, and summary

What is a shift leader's salary?

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly 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

Highest paying shift leader jobs

The highest paying types of shift leaders are leader, team leader, and sales leader.

Job titleAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rateJob openings
Crew Manager$33,856$2,821$16.28221,986
Lead Crew Member$32,857$2,738$15.80152,202
Team Leader/Trainer$43,044$3,587$20.69141,734
Swing Manager$38,427$3,202$18.47203,761
Kitchen Lead$35,678$2,973$17.1556,300
Customer Service Leader$33,791$2,816$16.25301,338

Which companies pay shift leaders the most?

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.

RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rate
1IBM$44,423$21.36
2Dairy Farmers of America$44,347$21.32
3Stanford University$44,285$21.29
4Reser's Fine Foods$43,685$21.00
5BD$43,479$20.90
6JBS USA$42,976$20.66
7Nation Pizza$42,683$20.52
8Steel Dynamics$42,619$20.49
9Bunge$42,162$20.27
10Martin Marietta$41,828$20.11
11Medical University of South Carolina$41,647$20.02
12American Woodmark$41,595$20.00
13ABB$41,511$19.96
14Accenture$41,400$19.90
15Owens Corning$41,330$19.87
16Pactiv$41,298$19.85
17U.S. Venture$41,259$19.84
18O-I Glass$41,201$19.81
19General Electric$41,108$19.76
20HCL Technologies$40,957$19.69

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$36,000$35,600$35,200$34,800$34,400$34,000
MaleFemale

Shift leader salary trends

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.

Average shift leader salary over time

Compare shift leader salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Shift leader salary by year

YearAvg. salaryHourly 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%

Recently added shift leader salaries

CompanyJobLocationDate addedSalary
Wegmans Food MarketsShift LeaderLeesburg, VA06/30/2025$43,827
Einstein Bros. BagelsShift LeaderCedar Lake, IN06/30/2025$30,408
Einstein Bros. BagelsShift LeaderLos Angeles, CA06/30/2025$41,740
Einstein Bros. BagelsDistrict Shift LeaderEllicott City, MD06/30/2025$30,408
Einstein Bros. BagelsDistrict Shift LeaderLas Vegas, NV06/30/2025$24,355
Einstein Bros. BagelsDistrict Shift LeaderColumbus, OH06/30/2025$24,355
Einstein Bros. BagelsShift LeaderRochester, NY06/30/2025$30,408
Einstein Bros. BagelsShift LeaderBoston, MA06/30/2025$30,408
Einstein Bros. BagelsShift LeaderDenver, CO06/30/2025$30,408
Einstein Bros. BagelsShift LeaderMinneapolis, MN06/30/2025$26,609

Shift leader salary FAQs

Search for shift leader jobs

Browse food preparation and restaurant jobs