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IT Team Lead Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an IT Team Lead in the United States is $129,901 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $62.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $144,791
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $116,911 to $137,695
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $105,084
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence IT Team Lead Salaries

An IT Team 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 IT Team Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an IT Team 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): $201,362
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $93,362
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $129,328
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $152,229
  • Expert (over 8 years): $168,422
Levels Salary
Informati... Level IT Team Lead$201,362
Informati... Level IT Team Lead$93,362
IT Team L... Level IT Team Lead$129,328
Informati... Level IT Team Lead$152,229
Informati... Level IT Team Lead$168,422
View as Graph

How Do IT Team 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 IT Team Leads. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $143,826.
  • California: $143,281.
  • Massachusetts: $141,371.

Top Paying Cities for IT Team 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: $163,844
  • San Francisco: $162,050
  • Oakland: $158,635

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 7.96% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Telecommunications (Mentioned in 2.08% Job Postings): Telecommunication is the transmission of information by various types of technologies over wire, radio or optical. It has its origin in the desire of humans for communication over a distance greater than that feasible with the human voice.
  • Computer Hardware (Mentioned in 1.8% Job Postings): Maintaining, configuring, and setting up computer hardware to increase business efficiency and staff productivity.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 7.96%
Telecommunications 2.08%
Computer Hardware 1.8%
See More Skills

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 Team Lead's salary.

  • Information Security: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Information Security $138,994
7%
Consulting $136,396
5%
Collaboration $136,396
5%
Get Latest Data

IT Team Lead Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For IT Team Lead roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 18% above the average. In contrast, IT Team Lead positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view IT Team Lead as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an IT Team Lead

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$153,283$74.018%
Financial Services$149,386$72.015%
Pharmaceuticals$149,386$72.015%
Aerospace & Defense$145,489$70.012%
Energy & Utilities$142,891$69.010%

How Education impacts an IT Team Lead's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many IT Team 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 an IT Team Lead with a Associate's Degree is between $116,520 and $125,625).

IT Team Lead Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for IT Team Lead
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.8%
High School 23.6%
Associates 11.1%
Bachelors 48.6%
Masters 13.9%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

IT Team Lead Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an IT Team 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
$116,911
Average $129,901/year
$137,695
$9,743
Average $10,825/month
$11,475
$2,248
Average $2,498/week
$2,648
$56
Average $62/hour
$66
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $137,695 $11,475 $2,648 $66
Average $129,901 $10,825 $2,498 $62
25th Percentile $116,911 $9,743 $2,248 $56

Most common benefits for IT Team Lead

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

Common company salaries for IT Team Lead

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

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FAQ about IT Team Lead

1. What industry pays the highest salary for IT Team Lead?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for IT Team Lead roles, with salaries approximately 18% 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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