What are the main factors that influence a Design Lead's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

What industry pays the highest salary for Design Lead?

The Hospitality & Leisure industry offers the highest average compensation for Design Lead roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

How does experience change A Design Lead's salary?

A Design Lead's salary grows with experience: a Product Design Engineer I (0-2 years)earns $80,883, a Design Lead (2-4 years)earns $91,749, a Product Design Engineer III (4-7 years)earns $114,691, a Product Design Engineer IV (7+ years)earns $140,040, a Product Design Engineer V (7-10 years)earns $164,055,

What are the highest paying states for a Design Lead?

Design Lead salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Design Lead roles are District of Columbia $100,951, California $100,568, Massachusetts $99,228. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Design Lead roles make?

Salaries for Design Lead level roles vary by specialization: UX Design Lead: $149,149; Product Design Lead: $146,839; Lead Design Engineer: $138,581; Graphic Design Lead: $119,594; Lead Design Researcher: $118,742.

Design Lead Salary in Delaware

How much does a Design Lead make in Delaware?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Design Lead in Delaware is $92,335 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $107,561
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $82,119 to $100,304
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $72,819

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Design Lead Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$100,304	$8,359	$1,929	$48
Average	$92,335	$7,695	$1,776	$44
25th Percentile	$82,119	$6,843	$1,579	$39

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Key Factors That Influence Design Lead Salaries

A Design 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Design Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Design 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): $80,883
Early Career (1-2 years): $91,749
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $114,691
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $140,040
Expert (over 8 years): $164,055

Levels	Salary
Product D... Level Design Lead	$80,883
Design Le... Level Design Lead	$91,749
Product D... Level Design Lead	$114,691
Product D... Level Design Lead	$140,040
Product D... Level Design Lead	$164,055

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Design 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 Design Leads. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $100,951.
California: $100,568.
Massachusetts: $99,228.

District of Columbia $100,951 California $100,568 Massachusetts $99,228 Washington $98,863 New Jersey $98,826 Alaska $98,699 Connecticut $97,441 New York $96,930

Hawaii $95,298 Rhode Island $94,532 Maryland $94,012 Minnesota $93,301 Colorado $93,028 Illinois $92,936 Oregon $92,590 Delaware $92,335

New Hampshire $92,174 Virginia $91,815 Pennsylvania $90,766 Nevada $90,238 North Dakota $90,064 Michigan $89,791 Wisconsin $89,691 Vermont $89,490

Texas $88,934 Maine $88,897 Arizona $88,843 Ohio $88,779 Georgia $87,940 Indiana $87,521 Wyoming $87,438 Utah $87,311

Iowa $87,256 Kansas $86,818 Louisiana $86,691 North Carolina $86,645 Missouri $86,627 Florida $86,271 Montana $86,080 Nebraska $85,898

Kentucky $85,797 South Carolina $85,433 Tennessee $85,205 Idaho $85,113 New Mexico $84,448 Oklahoma $84,302 Alabama $83,764 South Dakota $82,861

Arkansas $82,369 West Virginia $82,105 Mississippi $81,311

Top Paying Cities for Design 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:

Lincoln: $91,919
Little Creek: $92,592
Magnolia: $92,459

Lincoln, DE $91,919 Little Creek, DE $92,592 Magnolia, DE $92,459 Milford, DE $92,152 Marydel, DE $92,304 Millsboro, DE $91,533 Millville, DE $91,675 Milton, DE $91,833

Nassau, DE $91,900 Ocean View, DE $91,659 Rehoboth Beach, DE $91,835 Seaford, DE $91,887 Selbyville, DE $91,507 Smyrna, DE $92,656 Viola, DE $92,229 Woodside, DE $92,477

Bear, DE $92,264 Newark, DE $92,229 Claymont, DE $92,418 Delaware City, DE $92,321 Hockessin, DE $92,221 Kirkwood, DE $92,304 Middletown, DE $92,339 Montchanin, DE $92,242

New Castle, DE $92,255 Odessa, DE $92,385 Port Penn, DE $92,447 Rockland, DE $92,251 Saint Georges, DE $92,310 Townsend, DE $92,452 Winterthur, DE $92,262 Lewes, DE $91,869

Wilmington, DE $92,225 Dover, DE $92,592 Dover Afb, DE $92,104 Bethany Beach, DE $91,562 Bethel, DE $91,657 Bridgeville, DE $91,873 Camden Wyoming, DE $92,331 Cheswold, DE $92,562

Clayton, DE $92,564 Dagsboro, DE $91,499 Delmar, DE $91,352 Ellendale, DE $91,629 Felton, DE $92,145 Fenwick Island, DE $91,519 Frankford, DE $91,359 Frederica, DE $92,236

Georgetown, DE $91,464 Greenwood, DE $91,888 Harbeson, DE $91,561 Harrington, DE $92,028 Hartly, DE $92,315 Houston, DE $91,897 Kenton, DE $92,569 Laurel, DE $91,409

Yorklyn, DE $92,248

Design Lead Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Design Lead roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Hospitality & Leisure and Construction sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Design Lead positions in Insurance or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Design Lead as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Design Lead

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Hospitality & Leisure	$129,269	$62.0	40%
Construction	$120,035	$58.0	30%
Internet	$115,418	$55.0	25%
Aerospace & Defense	$110,802	$53.0	20%
MFG Durable	$106,185	$51.0	15%

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

Understanding how a Design 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

$82,119

Average $92,335/year

$100,304

$6,843

Average $7,695/month

$8,359

$1,579

Average $1,776/week

$1,929

$39

Average $44/hour

$48

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$100,304	$8,359	$1,929	$48
Average	$92,335	$7,695	$1,776	$44
25th Percentile	$82,119	$6,843	$1,579	$39

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