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

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

How does experience change A Lead Programmer's salary?

A Lead Programmer's salary grows with experience: an Applications Programmer III (4-7 years)earns $119,705, an Applications Programmer IV (7+ years)earns $140,281, an Lead Programmer (7-10 years)earns $163,025, an Applications Programming Supervisor (10+ years)earns $131,029, an Applications Programming Manager (10+ years)earns $148,291,

What are the highest paying states for a Lead Programmer?

Lead Programmer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Lead Programmer roles are District of Columbia $181,849, California $181,159, Massachusetts $178,745. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Lead Programmer roles make?

Salaries for Lead Programmer level roles vary by specialization: Lead Programmer Analyst: $169,934; Expert Client/Server Programmer Team Lead: $145,430; Operating Systems Programmer Project Lead: $138,460; Team Lead Web Software Programmer: $137,600; Lead UI Programmer: $135,500.

How do different companies affect a Lead Programmer's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Lead Programmer roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Lead Programmer Salary in the United States

How much does a Lead Programmer make in the United States?

As of June 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Programmer in the United States is $164,242 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $79.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $195,873
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $150,023 to $180,799
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $137,077

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Lead Programmer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$180,799	$15,067	$3,477	$87
Average	$164,242	$13,687	$3,159	$79
25th Percentile	$150,023	$12,502	$2,885	$72

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Key Factors That Influence Lead Programmer Salaries

A Lead Programmer'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 Lead Programmer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead Programmer'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): $119,705
Early Career (1-2 years): $140,281
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $163,025
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $131,029
Expert (over 8 years): $148,291

Levels	Salary
Applicati... Level Lead Programmer	$119,705
Applicati... Level Lead Programmer	$140,281
Lead Prog... Level Lead Programmer	$163,025
Applicati... Level Lead Programmer	$131,029
Applicati... Level Lead Programmer	$148,291

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Lead Programmer 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 Lead Programmers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $181,849.
California: $181,159.
Massachusetts: $178,745.

District of Columbia $181,849 California $181,159 Massachusetts $178,745 Washington $178,088 New Jersey $178,022 Alaska $177,792 Connecticut $175,525 New York $174,606

Hawaii $171,666 Rhode Island $170,286 Maryland $169,350 Minnesota $168,069 Colorado $167,576 Illinois $167,412 Oregon $166,788 Delaware $166,328

New Hampshire $166,039 Virginia $165,392 Pennsylvania $163,503 Nevada $162,550 North Dakota $162,238 Michigan $161,746 Wisconsin $161,565 Vermont $161,204

Texas $160,202 Maine $160,136 Arizona $160,037 Ohio $159,922 Georgia $158,411 Indiana $157,656 Wyoming $157,508 Utah $157,278

Iowa $157,180 Kansas $156,391 Louisiana $156,161 North Carolina $156,079 Missouri $156,046 Florida $155,406 Montana $155,061 Nebraska $154,732

Kentucky $154,552 South Carolina $153,895 Tennessee $153,484 Idaho $153,320 New Mexico $152,121 Oklahoma $151,858 Alabama $150,889 South Dakota $149,263

Arkansas $148,376 West Virginia $147,900 Mississippi $146,471

Top Paying Cities for Lead Programmers

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: $207,158
San Francisco: $204,890
Oakland: $200,572

San Jose, CA $207,158

San Francisco, CA $204,890

Oakland, CA $200,572

New York, NY $189,107

Paramus, NJ $186,807

Queens Village, NY $186,799

Passaic, NJ $186,643

Bergenfield, NJ $186,628

Stamford, CT $186,267

Huntington, NY $186,200

Newark, NJ $184,986

Bridgeport, CT $184,639

Vallejo, CA $184,312

New Brunswick, NJ $184,247

Petaluma, CA $184,148

Middlesex, NJ $183,836

Somerset, NJ $183,721

Santa Cruz, CA $183,508

Boston, MA $182,506

Monterey, CA $181,929

Seattle, WA $181,553

Santa Rosa, CA $181,520

Los Angeles, CA $181,471

Juneau, AK $181,044

Washington, DC $180,863

Orange, CA $180,279

Santa Ana, CA $179,845

Long Beach, CA $179,681

Anaheim, CA $179,648

Anchorage, AK $179,566

Santa Maria, CA $179,073

Everett, WA $179,040

Danbury, CT $178,462

Bremerton, WA $178,235

Tacoma, WA $177,644

New Suffolk, NY $177,641

Sacramento, CA $177,595

Santa Barbara, CA $177,414

Trenton, NJ $177,234

San Diego, CA $177,234

Brockton, MA $177,053

Fairbanks, AK $176,650

Lompoc, CA $176,232

Lowell, MA $176,099

Ventura, CA $176,067

Nashua, NH $176,035

Stockton, CA $176,018

Modesto, CA $174,819

Poughkeepsie, NY $174,458

Olympia, WA $174,146

Kennewick, WA $174,146

New Haven, CT $174,080

Lawrence, MA $173,489

Hartford, CT $173,325

Riverside, CA $173,292

New Bedford, MA $173,127

Richland, WA $173,127

Bakersfield, CA $172,898

San Bernardino, CA $172,832

New Britain, CT $172,815

Atlantic City, NJ $172,815

New London, CT $172,750

Norwich, CT $172,700

Portsmouth, NH $172,668

Boulder, CO $172,319

Portland, OR $172,093

Worcester, MA $172,076

Minneapolis, MN $171,567

Philadelphia, PA $171,337

Honolulu, HI $170,795

Saint Paul, MN $170,716

Vineland, NJ $170,680

Providence, RI $170,204

Chicago, IL $169,728

Bellingham, WA $169,531

Springfield, MA $169,399

Baltimore, MD $169,350

Chico, CA $168,939

Pittsfield, MA $168,496

Manchester, NH $168,184

Spokane, WA $167,461

Denver, CO $167,445

Albany, NY $166,673

Troy, NY $166,607

Nassau, NY $166,431

Schenectady, NY $166,262

Wilmington, DE $166,131

Burlington, VT $165,901

Salem, OR $165,835

Portland, ME $165,326

Yakima, WA $165,162

Rochester, MN $164,653

Reno, NV $164,570

Fresno, CA $164,570

Milwaukee, WI $164,423

Detroit, MI $164,258

Ann Arbor, MI $164,231

Allentown, PA $164,209

Colorado Springs, CO $163,930

Syracuse, NY $163,848

Carson City, NV $163,848

Houston, TX $163,618

Eugene, OR $163,536

Gary, IN $163,339

Springfield, OR $163,207

Bismarck, ND $163,174

Galveston, TX $163,059

Medford, OR $162,813

Fort Collins, CO $162,747

Concord, NH $162,665

Austin, TX $162,616

Mesa, AZ $162,271

Reading, PA $162,255

Phoenix, AZ $162,238

Dallas, TX $162,189

Saint Cloud, MN $162,031

Madison, WI $161,811

Utica, NY $161,368

Rochester, NY $161,105

Des Moines, IA $161,089

Raleigh, NC $161,072

Atlanta, GA $160,826

Battle Creek, MI $160,776

Salt Lake City, UT $160,727

Lancaster, PA $160,481

Harrisburg, PA $160,251

Kansas City, MO $160,087

Champaign, IL $160,054

Kansas City, KS $160,054

Fort Worth, TX $160,037

Columbus, OH $160,009

Boca Raton, FL $159,972

Pittsburgh, PA $159,906

Richmond, VA $159,840

Indianapolis, IN $159,807

Cleveland, OH $159,791

Las Vegas, NV $159,594

Cincinnati, OH $159,594

Petersburg, VA $159,348

Huntsville, AL $159,101

Lansing, MI $158,991

Lebanon, PA $158,970

Pueblo, CO $158,953

Appleton, WI $158,904

Buffalo, NY $158,838

Dayton, OH $158,789

Racine, WI $158,756

Charlotte, NC $158,740

Saint Louis, MO $158,691

York, PA $158,592

Elkhart, IN $158,592

Gastonia, NC $158,561

Billings, MT $158,521

Beaumont, TX $158,477

Lorain, OH $158,444

Benton Harbor, MI $158,411

Toledo, OH $158,379

Binghamton, NY $158,296

Rock Hill, SC $158,280

Rockford, IL $158,198

Springfield, IL $158,132

Elyria, OH $158,116

Fargo, ND $158,116

Flagstaff, AZ $158,001

Fort Lauderdale, FL $157,902

Duluth, MN $157,804

Miami, FL $157,804

Cheyenne, WY $157,689

Grand Forks, ND $157,689

Bangor, ME $157,327

Cedar Rapids, IA $157,147

Durham, NC $157,078

Louisville, KY $157,065

Grand Rapids, MI $157,032

Hialeah, FL $157,015

Casper, WY $156,785

Scranton, PA $156,588

New Orleans, LA $156,539

Virginia Beach, VA $156,523

Akron, OH $156,441

Peoria, IL $156,227

Sarasota, FL $156,194

Nashville, TN $156,079

Omaha, NE $156,079

Green Bay, WI $156,079

Baton Rouge, LA $155,997

Charleston, SC $155,964

Jamestown, NY $155,882

Davenport, IA $155,882

Tucson, AZ $155,800

Saint Petersburg, FL $155,701

Tampa, FL $155,669

Evansville, IN $155,570

Port Arthur, TX $155,570

Bradenton, FL $155,504

Santa Fe, NM $155,209

Orlando, FL $154,913

Clearwater, FL $154,864

Canton, OH $154,519

La Crosse, WI $154,519

Albuquerque, NM $154,420

Newport News, VA $154,404

High Point, NC $154,355

Ogden, UT $154,289

Corpus Christi, TX $154,158

Norfolk, VA $154,059

Laramie, WY $154,059

Rock Island, IL $153,960

Saginaw, MI $153,928

Jacksonville, FL $153,911

Salisbury, NC $153,878

Boise, ID $153,845

Moline, IL $153,763

Fort Myers, FL $153,714

Memphis, TN $153,681

Tulsa, OK $153,599

Waterloo, IA $153,501

Spartanburg, SC $153,336

Lincoln, NE $153,254

Fort Wayne, IN $153,221

Provo, UT $153,205

Cedar Falls, IA $153,008

San Antonio, TX $152,942

Greensboro, NC $152,876

South Bend, IN $152,860

Savannah, GA $152,679

Muskegon, MI $152,614

Birmingham, AL $152,597

Winston Salem, NC $152,517

Lake Charles, LA $152,121

Anderson, IN $152,088

Lexington, KY $152,039

Augusta, GA $151,990

Greenville, SC $151,990

Lima, OH $151,858

Wichita, KS $151,842

Tuscaloosa, AL $151,842

Columbia, SC $151,694

Springfield, OH $151,661

Asheville, NC $151,398

Bloomington, IN $151,283

Knoxville, TN $150,692

Shreveport, LA $150,676

Wilmington, NC $150,462

Roanoke, VA $150,462

Topeka, KS $150,166

Frankfort, KY $150,148

Oklahoma City, OK $150,035

Chillicothe, OH $149,969

Longview, TX $149,953

Melbourne, FL $149,937

Sioux Falls, SD $149,674

Mobile, AL $149,657

Terre Haute, IN $149,592

Altoona, PA $149,493

Amarillo, TX $149,378

Killeen, TX $149,329

Fayetteville, AR $149,197

Chattanooga, TN $149,148

Sioux City, IA $149,000

Idaho Falls, ID $148,967

Lynchburg, VA $148,836

Gainesville, FL $148,623

Portsmouth, OH $148,540

Little Rock, AR $148,508

Lafayette, LA $148,442

Youngstown, OH $148,442

Daytona Beach, FL $148,343

Clarksville, TN $148,327

Pensacola, FL $148,311

Temple, TX $148,299

Hopkinsville, KY $147,818

Erie, PA $147,785

Florence, SC $147,719

Charleston, WV $147,456

Great Falls, MT $147,374

Macon, GA $147,144

Tallahassee, FL $147,128

Fayetteville, NC $147,095

Waco, TX $147,062

Helena, MT $146,947

Pine Bluff, AR $146,885

Vincennes, IN $146,685

Lubbock, TX $146,619

Alamogordo, NM $146,520

Twin Falls, ID $146,372

Rapid City, SD $146,323

Jackson, MS $146,028

Huntington, WV $146,016

Greenville, MS $146,011

Parkersburg, WV $145,844

Montgomery, AL $145,814

Wichita Falls, TX $145,650

Springfield, MO $145,650

Biloxi, MS $145,568

Monroe, LA $145,403

Johnstown, PA $145,288

Sumter, SC $145,223

Columbus, GA $145,206

Pascagoula, MS $144,894

Abilene, TX $144,894

Kingsport, TN $144,467

Albany, GA $144,467

Gulfport, MS $144,418

Alexandria, LA $143,876

Fort Smith, AR $143,465

El Paso, TX $143,022

Las Cruces, NM $142,283

Harlingen, TX $141,866

Pocatello, ID $141,839

Florence, AL $141,626

Brownsville, TX $141,593

Mcallen, TX $141,248

Dothan, AL $141,018

Columbus, MS $140,043

Altus, OK $139,277

Lawton, OK $138,965

Pierre, SD $138,374

What Skills Can Increase a Lead Programmer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Analysis (Mentioned in 5.15% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Application Development (Mentioned in 3.77% Job Postings): Application development may refer to: Mobile application development ("app development") or the process of developing desktop application software. Mobile app development is the act or process by which a mobile app is developed for mobile devices, such as personal digital assistants, enterprise digital assistants or mobile phones. These applications can be pre-installed on phones during manufacturing platforms, or delivered as web applications using server-side or client-side processing (e.g., JavaScript) to provide an "application-like" experience within a Web browser.
HTML (Mentioned in 2.45% Job Postings): A computer language that used in creating, updating and maintaining text, graphics and links in a website.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Analysis	5.15%
Application Development	3.77%
HTML	2.45%

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 Programmer's salary.

Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
UI: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Troubleshooting: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Consulting	$182,309	11%
UI	$179,024	9%
Troubleshooting	$177,381	8%
Leadership	$177,381	8%
Software Development	$177,381	8%
Debugging	$177,381	8%

Get Latest Data

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

Understanding how a Lead Programmer'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 June 01, 2026

$150,023

Average $164,242/year

$180,799

$12,502

Average $13,687/month

$15,067

$2,885

Average $3,159/week

$3,477

$72

Average $79/hour

$87

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$180,799	$15,067	$3,477	$87
Average	$164,242	$13,687	$3,159	$79
25th Percentile	$150,023	$12,502	$2,885	$72

Salaries of jobs related to Lead Programmer

Salary Trends for Lead Programmer

Salaries for a Lead Programmer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $152,345 in 2023 to around $147,573 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Lead Programmer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Lead Programmer Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$152,345

2024

$149,137

2025

$147,573

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$152,345
2024	$149,137
2025	$147,573
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Lead Programmer

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