Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Associate in California is $75,470 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.
However, a Lead Associate's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
Recruit with AI
Lead Associate Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $85,205 | $7,100 | $1,639 | $41 |
| Average | $75,470 | $6,289 | $1,451 | $36 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,838 | $5,570 | $1,285 | $32 |
Amazon - Oakland, CA
Empire Workforce Solutions - Compton, CA
Amazon - Torrance, CA
Weedmaps - Irvine, CA
A Lead Associate'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.
Experience is a primary driver of a Lead Associate'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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Lead Associate | $71,899 |
| Intermediate Level Lead Associate | $72,159 |
| Senior Level Lead Associate | $75,470 |
| Specialist Level Lead Associate | $79,478 |
| Expert Level Lead Associate | $79,765 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Lead Associates. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Lead Associate roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and MFG Durable sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Lead Associate positions in Hospitality & Leisure or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Lead Associate as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | $98,111 | $47.0 | 30% |
| MFG Durable | $90,564 | $44.0 | 20% |
| Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit | $83,017 | $40.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Lead Associate'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $85,205 | $7,100 | $1,639 | $41 |
| Average | $75,470 | $6,289 | $1,451 | $36 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,838 | $5,570 | $1,285 | $32 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Lead Associate job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
White Cap
Corona, CA
White Cap | Corona, CA
Lead Warehouse Associate. A position at White Cap isn't your ordinary job. You'll work in an exciting and diverse environment, meet interesting people, and... more
7 Days Ago
Daiso
Corona, CA
Daiso | Corona, CA
Store Sales Associate Lead. As a Store Sales Associate Lead, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of our retail store. You will be... more
7 Days Ago
Staffing Services, Inc
Montebello, CA
Staffing Services, Inc | Montebello, CA
We are a pillow manufacturing company seeking an Industrial Maintenance Mechanic Assistant to join our team.In this role, you will be responsible for troub... more
8 Days Ago
Dollar General Corporation
Wasco, CA
Dollar General Corporation | Wasco, CA
Work Where You MatterAt Dollar General, our mission is Serving Others. We value each and every one of our employees. Whether you are looking to launch a ne... more
8 Days Ago
Dollar General Corporation
Clearlake Oaks, CA
Dollar General Corporation | Clearlake Oaks, CA
Work Where You MatterAt Dollar General, our mission is Serving Others. We value each and every one of our employees. Whether you are looking to launch a ne... more
8 Days Ago
Dollar General Corporation
Twentynine Palms, CA
Dollar General Corporation | Twentynine Palms, CA
Work Where You MatterAt Dollar General, our mission is Serving Others. We value each and every one of our employees. Whether you are looking to launch a ne... more
8 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
