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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Laborer in the United States is $48,747 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $23.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $61,151
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $43,595 to $55,240
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $38,903

Key Factors That Influence Lead Laborer Salaries

A Lead Laborer'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 Lead Laborer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead Laborer'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): $46,584
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $46,967
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $48,747
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $50,657
  • Expert (over 8 years): $51,134
Levels Salary
Entry Level Lead Laborer$46,584
Intermediate Level Lead Laborer$46,967
Senior Level Lead Laborer$48,747
Specialist Level Lead Laborer$50,657
Expert Level Lead Laborer$51,134

How Do Lead Laborer 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 Laborers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $53,973.
  • California: $53,768.
  • Massachusetts: $53,052.

Top Paying Cities for Lead Laborers

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: $61,485
  • San Francisco: $60,812
  • Oakland: $59,530

What Skills Can Increase a Lead Laborer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 7.31% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Data Entry (Mentioned in 3.13% Job Postings): Transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.56% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 7.31%
Data Entry 3.13%
Microsoft Office 2.56%

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 Laborer's salary.

  • Contract Review: Can increase your salary by up to 77%.
  • Computer Hardware: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Administrative Support: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Contract Review $86,283
77%
Computer Hardware $57,034
17%
Administrative Support $53,622
10%

Lead Laborer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Lead Laborer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Lead Laborer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Construction typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Lead Laborer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Lead Laborer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$68,246$33.040%
Energy & Utilities$63,371$30.030%
Aerospace & Defense$58,497$28.020%
Insurance$56,059$27.015%
Chemicals$53,622$26.010%

How Education impacts a Lead Laborer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Lead Laborers enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Lead Laborer with a No Diploma is between $41,223 and $44,618).

Lead Laborer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Lead Laborer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 76.8%
High School 76.8%
Associates 14.3%
Bachelors 8.9%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%

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

Understanding how a Lead Laborer'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
$43,595
Average $48,747/year
$55,240
$3,633
Average $4,062/month
$4,603
$838
Average $937/week
$1,062
$21
Average $23/hour
$27
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $55,240 $4,603 $1,062 $27
Average $48,747 $4,062 $937 $23
25th Percentile $43,595 $3,633 $838 $21

Most common benefits for Lead Laborer

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

Common company salaries for Lead Laborer

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

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FAQ about Lead Laborer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Lead Laborer?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Lead Laborer roles, with salaries approximately 40% 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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