As of January 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Project Lead in the US is $100,228, equivalent to $48 per hour, $1,927 weekly, or $8,352 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Project Lead in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Project Lead in the US vary widely, spanning from $78,392 to $116,800. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($88,798) and 75th percentile ($108,902), while top earners (90th percentile) make $116,800 per year. This $20,104 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Project Management or PowerPoint, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, District of Columbia Project Lead often earn 10.7% above national averages due to demand from Fortune 38 companies and industry startups. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Project Lead Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Project Lead Salary $78,392 US January 01, 2026
25th Percentile Project Lead Salary $88,798 US January 01, 2026
50th Percentile Project Lead Salary $100,228 US January 01, 2026
75th Percentile Project Lead Salary $108,902 US January 01, 2026
90th Percentile Project Lead Salary $116,800 US January 01, 2026
25% $88,798 10% $78,392 90% $116,800 75% $108,902 $100,228 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Check out Project Lead jobs in the United States

Senior Project Engineer

King Industries, Inc. - NORWALK, CT

Project Administrator/Coordinator

Global Medical Response - PHOENIX, AZ

Project Engineer

Securitas - SAN ANTONIO, TX

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What is a Project Lead ?

Project management is the practice of initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing the work of a team to achieve specific goals and meet specific success criteria at the specified time. The primary challenge of project management is to achieve all of the project goals within the given constraints. This information is usually described in project documentation, created at the beginning of the development process. The primary constraints are scope, time, quality and budget. The secondary – and more ambitious – challenge is to optimize the allocation of necessary inputs and apply th...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/18/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Job Openings for Project Lead

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Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
88798
108902
100228

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
95205
121335
106973
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Project Lead in the United States. The base salary for Project Lead ranges from $88,798 to $108,902 with the average base salary of $100,228. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $95,205 to $121,335 with the average total cash compensation of $106,973.

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88798
108902

 

Skills associated with Project Lead: Design, Planning, RISK, Scope

Jobs with a similar salary range to Project Lead : Relocation Project Manager, Residential Project Manager, Strategic Projects Manager