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Software Engineering Team Lead Salary in the United States

How much does a Software Engineering Team Lead make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Engineering Team Lead in the United States is $175,232 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $84.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $194,021
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $165,867 to $185,067
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $157,341
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Software Engineering Team Lead Salaries

A Software Engineering Team 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 Software Engineering Team Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Engineering Team 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): $132,240
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $152,993
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $175,882
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $174,221
  • Expert (over 8 years): $220,072
Levels Salary
Software ... Level Software Engineering Team Lead$132,240
Software ... Level Software Engineering Team Lead$152,993
Software ... Level Software Engineering Team Lead$175,882
Software ... Level Software Engineering Team Lead$174,221
Software ... Level Software Engineering Team Lead$220,072
View as Graph

How Do Software Engineering Team 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 Software Engineering Team Leads. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $194,017.
  • California: $193,281.
  • Massachusetts: $190,705.

Top Paying Cities for Software Engineering Team 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: $221,020
  • San Francisco: $218,600
  • Oakland: $213,993

What Skills Can Increase a Software Engineering Team Lead's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 2.92% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Open Source (Mentioned in 3.61% Job Postings): Open source is a term that originally referred to open source software (OSS). Open source software is code that is designed to be publicly accessible—anyone can see, modify, and distribute the code as they see fit
  • AWS (Mentioned in 2.75% Job Postings): Amazon Web Services, Inc. is a subsidiary of Amazon that provides on-demand cloud computing platforms and APIs to individuals, companies, and governments, on a metered pay-as-you-go basis.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 2.92%
Open Source 3.61%
AWS 2.75%
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 Software Engineering Team Lead's salary.

  • Relationship Management: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Relationship Management $212,031
21%
Accountability $185,746
6%
Innovation $185,746
6%
Get Latest Data

Software Engineering Team Lead Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Software Engineering Team Lead roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 81% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Software Engineering Team Lead positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Software Engineering Team Lead as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Software Engineering Team Lead

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$245,325$118.040%
Financial Services$227,802$110.030%
Internet$219,040$105.025%
Pharmaceuticals$210,278$101.020%
Biotechnology$201,517$97.015%

How Education impacts a Software Engineering Team Lead's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Software Engineering Team Leads enter the field with a Bachelor'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 Software Engineering Team Lead with a Bachelor's Degree is between $168,870 and $177,702).

Software Engineering Team Lead Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Software Engineering Team Lead
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 2.5%
Associates 2.0%
Bachelors 43.2%
Masters 43.9%
Doctorate 7.8%
View as Graph

Software Engineering Team Lead Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Software Engineering Team 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
$165,867
Average $175,232/year
$185,067
$13,822
Average $14,603/month
$15,422
$3,190
Average $3,370/week
$3,559
$80
Average $84/hour
$89
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $185,067 $15,422 $3,559 $89
Average $175,232 $14,603 $3,370 $84
25th Percentile $165,867 $13,822 $3,190 $80

Most common benefits for Software Engineering Team Lead

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

Common company salaries for Software Engineering Team Lead

Here are companies hiring for Software Engineering Team Lead and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Software Engineering Team Lead

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Software Engineering Team Lead?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Software Engineering Team Lead 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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