Data Management Lead Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Data Management Lead in the United States is $138,309 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $66.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $158,139
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $125,723 to $148,689
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $114,264

Key Factors That Influence Data Management Lead Salaries

A Data Management 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 Management Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Data Management 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): $110,968
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $131,010
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $139,183
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $174,525
  • Expert (over 8 years): $212,265
Levels Salary
Master Da... Level Data Management Lead$110,968
Master Da... Level Data Management Lead$131,010
Data Mana... Level Data Management Lead$139,183
Master Da... Level Data Management Lead$174,525
Data Mana... Level Data Management Lead$212,265

How Do Data Management Lead 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 Data Management Leads. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $153,136.
  • California: $152,555.
  • Massachusetts: $150,522.

Top Paying Cities for Data Management 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: $174,449
  • San Francisco: $172,539
  • Oakland: $168,903

What Skills Can Increase a Data Management Lead's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 5.21% 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 Management (Mentioned in 2.03% Job Postings): Data Management comprises all disciplines related to managing data as a valuable resource. The concept of data management arose in the 1980s as technology moved from sequential processing (first cards, then tape) to random access storage. Since it was now possible to store a discreet fact and quickly access it using random access disk technology, those suggesting that data management was more important than business process management used arguments such as "a customer's home address is stored in 75 (or some other large number) places in our computer systems." However, during this period, random access processing was not competitively fast, so those suggesting "process management" was more important than "data management" used batch processing time as their primary argument. As software applications evolved into real-time, interactive usage, it became obvious that both management processes were important. If the data was not well defined, the data would be mis-used in applications. If the process wasn't well defined, it was impossible to meet user needs.
  • Accounting (Mentioned in 0.94% Job Postings): Creating financial statements and reports based on the summary of financial and business transactions.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 5.21%
Data Management 2.03%
Accounting 0.94%

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 Management Lead's salary.

  • Active Listening: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Sales and Marketing: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Critical Thinking: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Active Listening $152,140
10%
Sales and Marketing $147,991
7%
Critical Thinking $146,608
6%

Data Management Lead Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Data Management Lead roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Data Management Lead positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Data Management Lead as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Data Management Lead

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$165,971$80.020%
Pharmaceuticals$165,971$80.020%
Energy & Utilities$159,055$76.015%
Chemicals$152,140$73.010%
Insurance$152,140$73.010%

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

Understanding how a Data Management 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 September 01, 2026
$125,723
Average $138,309/year
$148,689
$10,477
Average $11,526/month
$12,391
$2,418
Average $2,660/week
$2,859
$60
Average $66/hour
$71
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $148,689 $12,391 $2,859 $71
Average $138,309 $11,526 $2,660 $66
25th Percentile $125,723 $10,477 $2,418 $60

Most common benefits for Data Management Lead

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

Common company salaries for Data Management Lead

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

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FAQ about Data Management Lead

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

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Data Management Lead roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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.)

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