Data Lead Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Data Lead in the United States is $81,460 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $93,237
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $72,827 to $87,625
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $64,967
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View as table View as graph 25% $72,827 10% $64,967 90% $93,237 75% $87,625 $81,460 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Data Lead Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $87,625 $7,302 $1,685 $42
Average $81,460 $6,788 $1,567 $39
25th Percentile $72,827 $6,069 $1,401 $35
Check out Data Lead Job Openings in the United States
Data Engineer Lead

Huntington - Columbus, OH

Lead Data Engineer

Syntricate Technologies - Columbus, OH

Data Center Repair Lead

EOS - Columbus, OH

Data Center FieldOps Lead

EOS - Columbus, OH

Search More Data Lead Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Data Lead Salaries

A Data Lead'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 Data Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Data Lead'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): $68,884
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $82,196
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $95,824
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $82,060
  • Expert (over 8 years): $128,583
Levels Salary
Transacti... Level Data Lead$68,884
Transacti... Level Data Lead$82,196
Transacti... Level Data Lead$95,824
Data Lead... Level Data Lead$82,060
Transacti... Level Data Lead$128,583
$68,884 0 yr
$82,196 < 2 yrs
$95,824 2-4 yrs
$82,060 5-8 yrs
$128,583 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Data Leads

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: $102,746
  • San Francisco: $101,621
  • Oakland: $99,479

What Skills Can Increase a Data Lead's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 3.95% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Security Clearance (Mentioned in 2.63% Job Postings): A security clearance is a status granted to individuals allowing them access to classified information or to restricted areas, after completion of a thorough background check.
  • Collective Bargaining (Mentioned in 1.97% Job Postings): Collective bargaining is a process of negotiation between employers and a group of employees aimed at agreements to regulate working salaries, working conditions, benefits, and other aspects of workers' compensation and rights for workers. The interests of the employees are commonly presented by representatives of a trade union to which the employees belong. The collective agreements reached by these negotiations usually set out wage scales, working hours, training, health and safety, overtime, grievance mechanisms, and rights to participate in workplace or company affairs. The union may negotiate with a single employer (who is typically representing a company's shareholders) or may negotiate with a group of businesses, depending on the country, to reach an industry-wide agreement. A collective agreement functions as a labour contract between an employer and one or more unions. Collective bargaining consists of the process of negotiation between representatives of a union and employers (generally represented by management, or, in some countries such as Austria, Sweden and the Netherlands, by an employers' organization) in respect of the terms and conditions of employment of employees, such as wages, hours of work, working conditions, grievance procedures, and about the rights and responsibilities of trade unions. The parties often refer to the result of the negotiation as a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) or as a collective employment agreement (CEA).
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 3.95%
Security Clearance 2.63%
Collective Bargaining 1.97%
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 Data Lead's salary.
  • Technical Services: Can increase your salary by up to 32%.
  • Recruitment and Selection: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • Software Development: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Technical Services
$107,528
32%
Recruitment and Selection
$101,011
24%
Software Development
$100,196
23%
Business Intelligence
$99,382
22%
Object Oriented Programming
$99,382
22%
Programming Language
$97,752
20%
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Data Lead Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Data Lead roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Data Lead positions in Pharmaceuticals or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Data Lead as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Data Lead

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$89,606$43.010%
Biotechnology$89,606$43.010%
Business Services$89,606$43.010%
Chemicals$89,606$43.010%
Construction$89,606$43.010%

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

Understanding how a Data Lead'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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Data Lead

Salaries for a Data Lead can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $95,481 in 2023 to around $93,047 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Data Lead salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Data Lead Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$95,481
2024
$94,502
2025
$93,047
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $95,481
2024 $94,502
2025 $93,047
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Data Lead

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Data Lead

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

Find Your Next Data Lead Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Data Lead job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Bread Financial Payments

    Columbus, OH

    Bread Financial Payments | Columbus, OH

    A fintech company is seeking a Data Scientist to generate data-driven insights and develop AI solutions to enhance marketing strategies.You will utilize ad... more

    8 Days Ago

  • ComResource

    Columbus, OH

    ComResource | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. ComResource is looking for a Data Scientist. Responsibilities. Develop and validate predictive and prescriptive models us... more

    5 Days Ago

  • AndHealth

    Columbus, OH

    AndHealth | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Data Engineer. Full Time. Columbus, OH. . About Andhealth. AndHealth is a healthcare technology company created to radica... more

    6 Days Ago

  • BCforward

    Columbus, OH

    BCforward | Columbus, OH

    BCforward is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Data Analyst. Job Title: Niche Support Personnel - Data Analyst Intermediate (3-6 years). Location:... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Alphabe Insight

    Columbus, OH

    Alphabe Insight | Columbus, OH

    Data Entry. At Captura Hall, we specialize in creating tailored business solutions designed to enhance operational performance and drive measurable success... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Saxon Global

    Columbus, OH

    Saxon Global | Columbus, OH

    Analytics And Data Science Professional. You will be joining a team of analytics and data science professionals within the Enterprise Data & Analytics orga... more

    8 Days Ago

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FAQ about Data Lead

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

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Data Lead roles, with salaries approximately 10% 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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