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Dev Lead Salary in the United States

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

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Dev Lead in the United States is $138,205 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $66.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $151,441
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $128,477 to $145,133
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $119,620
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Dev Lead Salaries

A Dev 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Dev Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Dev 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): $94,594
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $114,064
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $138,880
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $163,856
  • Expert (over 8 years): $127,005
Levels Salary
Reliabili... Level Dev Lead$94,594
Reliabili... Level Dev Lead$114,064
Dev Lead Level Dev Lead$138,880
Reliabili... Level Dev Lead$163,856
Reliabili... Level Dev Lead$127,005
View as Graph

How Do Dev 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 Dev Leads. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $153,021.
  • California: $152,440.
  • Massachusetts: $150,409.

Top Paying Cities for Dev 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: $174,318
  • San Francisco: $172,409
  • Oakland: $168,776

What Skills Can Increase a Dev Lead's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 23.49% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Preventative Maintenance (Mentioned in 2.11% Job Postings): Developing and implementing maintenance strategies to increase equipment life expectancy and avoid unplanned downtime.
  • Product Quality (Mentioned in 1.51% Job Postings): Product quality refers to how well a product satisfies customer needs, serves its purpose and meets industry standards. When evaluating product quality, businesses consider several key factors, including whether a product solves a problem, works efficiently or suits customers' purposes.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 23.49%
Preventative Maintenance 2.11%
Product Quality 1.51%
See More Skills

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 Dev Lead's salary.

  • Teamwork: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • Systems Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
  • Time Management: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Teamwork $171,374
24%
Systems Engineering $169,992
23%
Time Management $160,318
16%
Get Latest Data

Dev Lead Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Dev Lead roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 39% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Dev Lead positions in Transportation or Media typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Dev Lead as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Dev Lead

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$165,846$80.020%
Pharmaceuticals$163,082$78.018%
Financial Services$158,936$76.015%
Aerospace & Defense$154,790$74.012%
Construction$152,026$73.010%

How Education impacts a Dev Lead's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Dev Leads enter the field with a Associate's Degree 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 Dev Lead with a Associate's Degree is between $135,619 and $141,130).

Dev Lead Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Dev Lead
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.8%
High School 39.3%
Associates 1.8%
Bachelors 39.3%
Masters 44.6%
Doctorate 14.3%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Dev 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 October 01, 2026
$128,477
Average $138,205/year
$145,133
$10,706
Average $11,517/month
$12,094
$2,471
Average $2,658/week
$2,791
$62
Average $66/hour
$70
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $145,133 $12,094 $2,791 $70
Average $138,205 $11,517 $2,658 $66
25th Percentile $128,477 $10,706 $2,471 $62

Most common benefits for Dev Lead

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

Common company salaries for Dev Lead

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

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FAQ about Dev Lead

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

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Dev 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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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