Lead Hand Salary in the United States

How much does a Lead Hand make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Hand in the United States is $36,377 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $17.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $42,843
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $32,937 to $39,762
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $29,806
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View as table View as graph 25% $32,937 10% $29,806 90% $42,843 75% $39,762 $36,377 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Lead Hand Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $39,762 $3,313 $765 $19
Average $36,377 $3,031 $700 $17
25th Percentile $32,937 $2,745 $633 $16
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Key Factors That Influence Lead Hand Salaries

A Lead Hand'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 Lead Hand Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead Hand'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): $36,520
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $37,202
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $38,727
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $38,890
  • Expert (over 8 years): $38,999
Levels Salary
Entry Level Lead Hand$36,520
Intermediate Level Lead Hand$37,202
Senior Level Lead Hand$38,727
Specialist Level Lead Hand$38,890
Expert Level Lead Hand$38,999
$36,520 0 yr
$37,202 < 2 yrs
$38,727 2-4 yrs
$38,890 5-8 yrs
$38,999 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Lead Hand 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 Lead Hands. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $40,276.
  • California: $40,124.
  • Massachusetts: $39,589.

Top Paying Cities for Lead Hands

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: $45,882
  • San Francisco: $45,431
  • Oakland: $44,423

What Skills Can Increase a Lead Hand's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 15.21% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Painting (Mentioned in 2.44% Job Postings): Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and airbrushes, can be used. The final work is also called a painting. Painting is an important form in the visual arts, bringing in elements such as drawing, gesture (as in gestural painting), composition, narration (as in narrative art), or abstraction (as in abstract art). Paintings can be naturalistic and representational (as in a still life or landscape painting), photographic, abstract, narrative, symbolistic (as in Symbolist art), emotive (as in Expressionism), or political in nature (as in Artivism). A portion of the history of painting in both Eastern and Western art is dominated by religious art. Examples of this kind of painting range from artwork depicting mythological figures on pottery, to Biblical scenes Sistine Chapel ceiling, to scenes from the life of Buddha or other images of Eastern religious origin.
  • First Aid (Mentioned in 1.56% Job Postings): First aid refers to medical attention that is usually administered immediately after the injury occurs and at the location where it occurred.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 15.21%
Painting 2.44%
First Aid 1.56%
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 Lead Hand's salary.
  • Energy Management: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Resource Management: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Energy Management
$44,380
22%
Resource Management
$39,287
8%
Leadership
$38,923
7%
Consulting
$38,923
7%
Engineering Services
$38,923
7%
Risk Management
$38,923
7%
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How Education impacts a Lead Hand's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Lead Hands enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Lead Hand with a No Diploma is between $38,679 and $42,226).

Lead Hand Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Lead Hand
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.8%
High School 50.9%
Associates 12.3%
Bachelors 33.3%
Masters 1.8%
Doctorate 1.8%
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Lead Hand Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lead Hand'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Lead Hand

Salaries for a Lead Hand can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $36,435 in 2023 to around $36,057 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Lead Hand salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Lead Hand Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$36,435
2024
$36,508
2025
$36,057
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $36,435
2024 $36,508
2025 $36,057
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Lead Hand

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Lead Hand

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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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