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 Programmer in New York is $174,625 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $84.
However, a Lead Programmer'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
AI-Powered Talent
Lead Programmer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $192,130 | $16,011 | $3,695 | $92 |
| Average | $174,625 | $14,552 | $3,358 | $84 |
| 25th Percentile | $159,519 | $13,293 | $3,068 | $77 |
Logic Manufacturing, Inc. - LAKE PARK, NC
Gro HR - WACO, TX
Meta Tech Industries - HOUSTON, TX
Brixey & Meyer - DAYTON, OH
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.
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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Applicati... Level Lead Programmer | $127,253 |
| Applicati... Level Lead Programmer | $149,143 |
| Lead Prog... Level Lead Programmer | $173,338 |
| Applicati... Level Lead Programmer | $139,287 |
| Applicati... Level Lead Programmer | $157,650 |
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 Programmers. 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 Programmer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 38% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Insurance and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Lead Programmer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Healthcare typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Lead Programmer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance | $209,550 | $101.0 | 20% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $206,057 | $99.0 | 18% |
| Biotechnology | $195,580 | $94.0 | 12% |
| Energy & Utilities | $188,595 | $91.0 | 8% |
| Software & Networking | $185,102 | $89.0 | 6% |
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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $192,130 | $16,011 | $3,695 | $92 |
| Average | $174,625 | $14,552 | $3,358 | $84 |
| 25th Percentile | $159,519 | $13,293 | $3,068 | $77 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Lead Programmer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
CSL Behring
KING OF PRUSSIA, PA
CSL Behring | KING OF PRUSSIA, PA
CSL Behring seeks a Senior Programmer to build secure, scalable applications that power pharmaceutical R&D and data management. In this role, you will desi... more
6 Days Ago
Formidable Engineering Technologies Inc
LOS ANGELES, CA
Formidable Engineering Technologies Inc | LOS ANGELES, CA
Role Description This is a full-time, on-site role for a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machinist located in North Hollywood, CA. The CNC Machinist will ... more
3 Days Ago
DW Products
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA
DW Products | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA
At a Glance Company: DW Screw Machine Products Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Job Type: Full-Time Salary: $85,000–$90,000 per year (DOE) Schedule: 1st Shift ... more
6 Days Ago
Azon USA
PARCHMENT, MI
Azon USA | PARCHMENT, MI
At a glance Company: Azon USA, Inc. Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Pay: $28.00–$32.00/hr Job Type: Full-Time Shift: Day Shift Experience: 1 Years Machines: ... more
6 Days Ago
Rotating Machinery Services
CANASTOTA, NY
Rotating Machinery Services | CANASTOTA, NY
At a glance Company: Rotating Machinery Services Location: Canastota, New York 13032 Job type: Full-time, on-site Schedule: 40 hours per week Experience: 4... more
6 Days Ago
AST SpaceMobile
MIDLAND, TX
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:
