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Lead Designer Salary in Exeter, MO

How much does a Lead Designer make in Exeter, MO?

As of November 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Designer in Exeter, MO is $103,001 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $50.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $115,974
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $94,097 to $109,791
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $85,991
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs
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Key Factors That Influence Lead Designer Salaries

A Lead Designer'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.

How Experience Level Affects Lead Designer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead Designer'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): $122,861
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $83,502
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $102,502
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $113,289
  • Expert (over 8 years): $138,376
Levels Salary
CAD Draft... Level Lead Designer$122,861
CAD Super... Level Lead Designer$83,502
Lead Desi... Level Lead Designer$102,502
CAD Manag... Level Lead Designer$113,289
CAD Senio... Level Lead Designer$138,376
View as Graph

Top Paying Cities for Lead Designers

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: $142,001
  • San Francisco: $140,446
  • Oakland: $137,486

What Skills Can Increase a Lead Designer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 11.11% 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.
  • Computer Aided Design (Mentioned in 1.59% Job Postings): CAD (computer-aided design) is the use of computer-based software to aid in design processes. CAD software is frequently used by different types of engineers and designers.
  • Electrical Wiring (Mentioned in 1.59% Job Postings): Connecting and repairing accessories for the distribution of electrical energy from the power source to various appliances and equipment.
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 11.11%
Computer Aided Design 1.59%
Electrical Wiring 1.59%
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 a Lead Designer's salary.

  • Engineering Services: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Negotiating: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Computer Hardware: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Engineering Services $115,361
12%
Negotiating $111,241
8%
Computer Hardware $111,241
8%
Get Latest Data

Lead Designer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Lead Designer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Lead Designer positions in Telecom or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Lead Designer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Lead Designer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$128,751$62.025%
Software & Networking$125,661$60.022%
Insurance$118,451$57.015%
Aerospace & Defense$115,361$55.012%
Internet$115,361$55.012%

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

Understanding how a Lead Designer'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 November 01, 2026
$94,097
Average $103,001/year
$109,791
$7,841
Average $8,583/month
$9,149
$1,810
Average $1,981/week
$2,111
$45
Average $50/hour
$53
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $109,791 $9,149 $2,111 $53
Average $103,001 $8,583 $1,981 $50
25th Percentile $94,097 $7,841 $1,810 $45

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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.

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