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Kitchen Team Lead Salary in the United States

How much does a Kitchen Team Lead make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Kitchen Team Lead in the United States is $44,877 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $22.

However, a Kitchen Team Lead's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $54,355
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $40,451 to $49,838
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $36,421
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Kitchen Team Lead Salaries

A Kitchen Team Lead's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Kitchen Team Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Kitchen Team Lead's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $43,226
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $43,424
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $44,877
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $46,506
  • Expert (over 8 years): $46,728
Levels Salary
Entry Level Kitchen Team Lead$43,226
Intermediate Level Kitchen Team Lead$43,424
Senior Level Kitchen Team Lead$44,877
Specialist Level Kitchen Team Lead$46,506
Expert Level Kitchen Team Lead$46,728
View as Graph

How Do Kitchen Team Leads Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Kitchen Team Leads. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $49,688.
  • California: $49,499.
  • Massachusetts: $48,840.

Top Paying Cities for Kitchen Team Lead

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $56,603
  • San Francisco: $55,984
  • Oakland: $54,804

What Skills Can Increase a Kitchen Team Lead's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 8.14% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Catering (Mentioned in 1.95% Job Postings): Catering is the business of providing food service at a remote site or a site such as a hotel, hospital, pub, aircraft, cruise ship, park, festival, filming location or film studio.
  • Cost Control (Mentioned in 1.16% Job Postings): Managing and analyzing financial data in determining and reducing business expenses to increase revenue and profitability.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 8.14%
Catering 1.95%
Cost Control 1.16%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Kitchen Team Lead's salary.

  • Quality Assurance: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Safety Training: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Microsoft Office: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Quality Assurance $48,916
9%
Safety Training $48,467
8%
Microsoft Office $48,467
8%
Get Latest Data

Kitchen Team Lead Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Kitchen Team Lead salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $48,054. While startup companies pay approximate $40,811.

Kitchen Team Lead Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $40,811
Growth Stage 51~500 $43,120
Established 501~5000 $46,448
Enterprise 5000+ $48,054

Kitchen Team Lead Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Kitchen Team Lead roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 25% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Hospitality & Leisure, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Kitchen Team Lead positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Kitchen Team Lead as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Kitchen Team Lead

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Hospitality & Leisure$49,365$24.010%
Healthcare$47,121$23.05%

How Education impacts an Kitchen Team Lead's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Kitchen Team Lead enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Kitchen Team Lead with a Bachelor's Degree is between $40,138 and $43,374.

Kitchen Team Lead Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Kitchen Team Lead
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 5.9%
High School 55.9%
Associates 17.6%
Bachelors 20.6%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Kitchen Team Lead Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Kitchen Team Lead's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$40,451
Average $44,877/year
$49,838
$3,371
Average $3,740/month
$4,153
$778
Average $863/week
$958
$19
Average $22/hour
$24
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $49,838 $4,153 $958 $24
Average $44,877 $3,740 $863 $22
25th Percentile $40,451 $3,371 $778 $19

Kitchen Team Lead Salary Growth & Career Path

Kitchen Team Lead

Next Role

For a Kitchen Team Lead, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Kitchen Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $55,497 - a projected growth of 24% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Kitchen Team Lead

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Kitchen Team Lead

Here are companies hiring for Kitchen Team Lead and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Kitchen Team Lead

1. Where can a Kitchen Team Lead earn the most?

A Kitchen Team Lead's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Kitchen Team Lead earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Kitchen Team Lead is $56,603.

2. What is the highest pay for Kitchen Team Lead?

The highest pay for Kitchen Team Lead is $54,355.

3. What is the lowest pay for Kitchen Team Lead?

The lowest pay for Kitchen Team Lead is $36,421.

4. What are the responsibilities of Kitchen Team Lead?

Supervises kitchen staff and food preparation. Ensures a high level of food quality, cleanliness, and customer satisfaction. May require a high school diploma or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor. Works independently within established procedures associated with the specific job function. Has gained proficiency in multiple competencies relevant to the job. Typically requires 3-5 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Kitchen Team Lead?

The Hospitality & Leisure industry offers the highest average compensation for Kitchen Team Lead roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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