IT Project Lead Salary in the United States

How much does an IT Project Lead make in the United States?

As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for an IT Project Lead in the United States is $143,119 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $69.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $162,602
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $133,722 to $153,317
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $125,167
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View as table View as graph 25% $133,722 10% $125,167 90% $162,602 75% $153,317 $143,119 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

IT Project Lead Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $153,317 $12,776 $2,948 $74
Average $143,119 $11,927 $2,752 $69
25th Percentile $133,722 $11,144 $2,572 $64
Check out IT Project Lead Job Openings in the United States
Project Director

Olgoonik Corporation - MERRIFIELD, VA

Project Manager - Industrial Group

Wayne Brothers Companies - EAGLEVILLE, TN

Project Manager - Construction

The DeLong Co., Inc. - CLINTON, WI

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Key Factors That Influence IT Project Lead Salaries

An IT Project 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 IT Project Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an IT Project 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): $100,169
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $122,264
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $142,369
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $158,463
  • Expert (over 8 years): $124,028
Levels Salary
IT Projec... Level IT Project Lead$100,169
IT Projec... Level IT Project Lead$122,264
IT Projec... Level IT Project Lead$142,369
IT Projec... Level IT Project Lead$158,463
IT Projec... Level IT Project Lead$124,028
$100,169 0 yr
$122,264 < 2 yrs
$142,369 2-4 yrs
$158,463 5-8 yrs
$124,028 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for IT Project 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: $180,516
  • San Francisco: $178,741
  • Oakland: $174,777

What Skills Can Increase an IT Project Lead's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 23.21% Job Postings): Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.
  • Software Development (Mentioned in 1.33% Job Postings): Software development is the process of conceiving, specifying, designing, programming, documenting, testing, and bug fixing involved in creating and maintaining applications, frameworks, or other software components. Software development is a process of writing and maintaining the source code, but in a broader sense, it includes all that is involved between the conception of the desired software through to the final manifestation of the software, sometimes in a planned and structured process. Therefore, software development may include research, new development, prototyping, modification, reuse, re-engineering, maintenance, or any other activities that result in software products. Software can be developed for a variety of purposes, the three most common being to meet specific needs of a specific client/business (the case with custom software), to meet a perceived need of some set of potential users (the case with commercial and open source software), or for personal use (e.g. a scientist may write software to automate a mundane task). Embedded software development, that is, the development of embedded software, such as used for controlling consumer products, requires the development process to be integrated with the development of the controlled physical product. System software underlies applications and the programming process itself, and is often developed separately.
  • PowerPoint (Mentioned in 0.8% Job Postings): A computer software created by Microsoft which allows the user to create slides with recordings, narrations, transitions and other features in order to present information.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 23.21%
Software Development 1.33%
PowerPoint 0.8%
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 an IT Project Lead's salary.
  • Project Management Software: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Continuous Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management Software
$158,862
11%
Consulting
$151,706
6%
Continuous Improvement
$151,706
6%
Quality Assurance
$150,275
5%
Critical Thinking
$150,275
5%
Commitment
$148,844
4%
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IT Project Lead Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an IT Project 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 March 01, 2026

Salary Trends for IT Project Lead

Salaries for an IT Project Lead can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $128,200 in 2023 to around $128,815 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of IT Project Lead salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of IT Project Lead Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$128,200
2024
$129,739
2025
$128,815
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
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2023 $128,200
2024 $129,739
2025 $128,815
2026
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2027
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Most common benefits for IT Project Lead

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

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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.)

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