Category Lead Salary in the United States

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

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Category Lead in the United States is $284,923 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $137.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $339,680
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $268,099 to $313,585
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $252,782
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View as table View as graph 25% $268,099 10% $252,782 90% $339,680 75% $313,585 $284,923 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Category Lead Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $313,585 $26,132 $6,030 $151
Average $284,923 $23,744 $5,479 $137
25th Percentile $268,099 $22,342 $5,156 $129
Check out Category Lead Job Openings in the United States
Assistant Category Manager

Signet Jewelers - Akron, OH

Category Insights Manager

Garage Beer - Columbus, OH

Category Management Consulting ManagerCincinnati

Dunnhumby - Cincinnati, OH

Assistant Category Manager

Signet Jewelers Ltd. - Akron, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Category Lead Salaries

A Category 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 Category Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Category 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): $129,158
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $148,761
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $182,785
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $219,592
  • Expert (over 8 years): $282,816
Levels Salary
Category ... Level Category Lead$129,158
Category ... Level Category Lead$148,761
Category ... Level Category Lead$182,785
VP of Cat... Level Category Lead$219,592
Category ... Level Category Lead$282,816
$129,158 0 yr
$148,761 < 2 yrs
$182,785 2-4 yrs
$219,592 5-8 yrs
$282,816 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Category 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 Category Leads. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $315,467.
  • California: $314,270.
  • Massachusetts: $310,082.

Top Paying Cities for Category 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: $359,373
  • San Francisco: $355,439
  • Oakland: $347,948

What Skills Can Increase a Category Lead's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 7.64% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • E- Commerce (Mentioned in 1.91% Job Postings): E-commerce is the activity of buying or selling of products on online services or over the Internet. Electronic commerce draws on technologies such as mobile commerce, electronic funds transfer, supply chain management, Internet marketing, online transaction processing, electronic data interchange (EDI), inventory management systems, and automated data collection systems. Modern electronic commerce typically uses the World Wide Web for at least one part of the transaction's life cycle although it may also use other technologies such as e-mail. Typical e-commerce transactions include the purchase of online books (such as Amazon) and music purchases (music download in the form of digital distribution such as iTunes Store), and to a less extent, customized/personalized online liquor store inventory services. There are three areas of e-commerce: online retailing, electronic markets, and online auctions. E-commerce is supported by electronic business.
  • Cost Management (Mentioned in 1.27% Job Postings): Planning and controlling the cost or budget of a business to generate savings and maximize long-term profits.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 7.64%
E- Commerce 1.91%
Cost Management 1.27%
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 Category Lead's salary.
  • Product Design: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Lateral Thinking: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Results Oriented: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Product Design
$333,360
17%
Lateral Thinking
$330,511
16%
Results Oriented
$319,114
12%
Consulting
$313,415
10%
Inventory Management
$313,415
10%
Foodservice
$310,566
9%
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Category Lead Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Category 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 May 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Category Lead

Salaries for a Category Lead can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $182,241 in 2023 to around $179,391 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Category Lead salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Category Lead Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$182,241
2024
$181,789
2025
$179,391
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $182,241
2024 $181,789
2025 $179,391
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Category Lead

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

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

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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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