Shipping Lead Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Shipping Lead in the United States is $65,579 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $80,887
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $57,975 to $73,592
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $51,052

Key Factors That Influence Shipping Lead Salaries

A Shipping 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 Shipping Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Shipping 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): $64,523
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $64,840
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $65,579
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $66,424
  • Expert (over 8 years): $67,426
Levels Salary
Entry Level Shipping Lead$64,523
Intermediate Level Shipping Lead$64,840
Senior Level Shipping Lead$65,579
Specialist Level Shipping Lead$66,424
Expert Level Shipping Lead$67,426

Top Paying Cities for Shipping Leads

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: $82,715
  • San Francisco: $81,810
  • Oakland: $80,085

What Skills Can Increase a Shipping Lead's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 12.03% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Packaging (Mentioned in 1.97% Job Postings): Preparing products through wrapping or bottling to protect the goods from damages during transportation and storage.
  • Cash Handling (Mentioned in 1.45% Job Postings): Process of receiving and giving money in a business. In retail, cash handling ranges from the point of sale to the behind-the-scenes money management during the day.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 12.03%
Packaging 1.97%
Cash Handling 1.45%

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 Shipping Lead's salary.

  • Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Coaching $71,481
9%
Commitment $70,826
8%
Process Improvement $70,826
8%

Shipping Lead Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Shipping Lead roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 65% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Shipping Lead positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Shipping Lead as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Shipping Lead

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$85,253$41.030%
Financial Services$81,974$39.025%
Biotechnology$78,695$38.020%
Energy & Utilities$75,416$36.015%
Chemicals$72,137$35.010%

How Education impacts a Shipping Lead's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Shipping Leads enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 Shipping Lead with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $63,350 and $67,775).

Shipping Lead Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Shipping Lead
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.3%
High School 53.3%
Associates 16.0%
Bachelors 28.0%
Masters 1.3%
Doctorate 0.0%

Shipping Lead Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Shipping 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 September 01, 2026
$57,975
Average $65,579/year
$73,592
$4,831
Average $5,465/month
$6,133
$1,115
Average $1,261/week
$1,415
$28
Average $32/hour
$35
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $73,592 $6,133 $1,415 $35
Average $65,579 $5,465 $1,261 $32
25th Percentile $57,975 $4,831 $1,115 $28

Most common benefits for Shipping Lead

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

Common company salaries for Shipping Lead

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

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FAQ about Shipping Lead

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Shipping Lead?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Shipping Lead roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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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