Creative Lead Salary in Berkeley, CA

How much does a Creative Lead make in Berkeley, CA?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Creative Lead in Berkeley, CA is $151,987 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $73.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $183,150
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $132,487 to $168,299
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $114,733
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View as table View as graph 25% $132,487 10% $114,733 90% $183,150 75% $168,299 $151,987 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Creative Lead Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $168,299 $14,025 $3,237 $81
Average $151,987 $12,666 $2,923 $73
25th Percentile $132,487 $11,041 $2,548 $64
Check out Creative Lead Job Openings in Berkeley, CA
Associate Creative Director, Copy

John McNeil Studio - Berkeley, CA

Manufacturing Tech - Lab Ops

Insight Global - Berkeley, CA

Production Supervisor

Petit Pot - Berkeley, CA

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Key Factors That Influence Creative Lead Salaries

A Creative 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, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

Top Paying Cities for Creative 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: $156,800
  • San Francisco: $155,083
  • Oakland: $151,815

What Skills Can Increase a Creative Lead's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 11.7% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Sales Process (Mentioned in 1.52% Job Postings): Designing and implementing repeatable steps that a salesperson takes to move a prospect from an early-stage lead to a closed customer.
  • Adobe Creative Suite (Mentioned in 0.98% Job Postings): Adobe Creative Suite is a discontinued software suite of graphic design, video editing, and web development applications developed by Adobe Systems.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 11.7%
Sales Process 1.52%
Adobe Creative Suite 0.98%
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 Creative Lead's salary.
  • Resourcing: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Staff Management: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Prioritization: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Resourcing
$164,146
8%
Staff Management
$161,107
6%
Prioritization
$158,067
4%
Insight
$158,067
4%
Innovation
$156,547
3%
Collaboration
$156,547
3%
Get Latest Data

Creative Lead Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Creative Lead roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Creative Lead positions in Media or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Creative Lead as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Creative Lead

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$197,584$95.030%
Internet$182,385$88.020%
Healthcare$174,786$84.015%
Biotechnology$167,186$80.010%
Chemicals$167,186$80.010%

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

Understanding how a Creative 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

Find Your Next Creative Lead Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Creative Lead job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
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    Berkeley, CA

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  • Acceler8 Talent

    Berkeley, CA

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    Berkeley, CA

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Cost of Living In Berkeley, CA

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