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

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Consulting Lead in the United States is $116,180 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $56.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $131,756
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $107,648 to $124,333
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $99,880

Key Factors That Influence Consulting Lead Salaries

A Consulting 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 Consulting Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Consulting 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): $138,495
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $94,062
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $115,581
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $124,309
  • Expert (over 8 years): $175,695
Levels Salary
Internal ... Level Consulting Lead$138,495
Auditing ... Level Consulting Lead$94,062
Consultin... Level Consulting Lead$115,581
Auditing ... Level Consulting Lead$124,309
Auditing ... Level Consulting Lead$175,695

How Do Consulting Lead 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 Consulting Leads. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $128,634.
  • California: $128,147.
  • Massachusetts: $126,439.

Top Paying Cities for Consulting 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: $146,538
  • San Francisco: $144,933
  • Oakland: $141,879

What Skills Can Increase a Consulting Lead's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 6.76% 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.
  • Housekeeping (Mentioned in 2.65% Job Postings): Housekeeping department is keeping the venue clean and sanitary as part of customer service. Cleaners vacuum rugs and furniture in hallways, rooms and public areas. They collect trash and empty wastebaskets, change the sheets and make the beds.
  • Operating System (Mentioned in 1.61% Job Postings): Maintaining software that runs on a computer that serves as an interface between computer hardware components and the user.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 6.76%
Housekeeping 2.65%
Operating System 1.61%

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 Consulting Lead's salary.

  • Facilities Management: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Guest Relations: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Facilities Management $139,416
20%
Guest Relations $134,769
16%
Coordination $130,122
12%

Consulting Lead Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Consulting Lead roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 95% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Consulting Lead positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Consulting Lead as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Consulting Lead

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$145,225$70.025%
Software & Networking$141,740$68.022%
Internet$139,416$67.020%
Pharmaceuticals$137,092$66.018%
Insurance$133,607$64.015%

How Education impacts a Consulting Lead's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Consulting Leads enter the field with a Associate's Degree 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 Consulting Lead with a Associate's Degree is between $115,043 and $120,933).

Consulting Lead Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Consulting Lead
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 2.8%
Associates 0.9%
Bachelors 48.1%
Masters 46.2%
Doctorate 0.9%

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

Understanding how a Consulting 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 October 01, 2026
$107,648
Average $116,180/year
$124,333
$8,971
Average $9,682/month
$10,361
$2,070
Average $2,234/week
$2,391
$52
Average $56/hour
$60
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $124,333 $10,361 $2,391 $60
Average $116,180 $9,682 $2,234 $56
25th Percentile $107,648 $8,971 $2,070 $52

Most common benefits for Consulting Lead

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

Common company salaries for Consulting Lead

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

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FAQ about Consulting Lead

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

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Consulting Lead roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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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