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HR Lead Salary in the United States

How much does an HR Lead make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an HR Lead in the United States is $112,188 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $54.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $134,093
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $104,542 to $123,654
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $97,581
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence HR Lead Salaries

An HR 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 HR Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an HR 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): $75,277
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $92,306
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $111,344
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $108,453
  • Expert (over 8 years): $126,765
Levels Salary
Human Res... Level HR Lead$75,277
Human Res... Level HR Lead$92,306
HR Lead Level HR Lead$111,344
Human Res... Level HR Lead$108,453
Human Res... Level HR Lead$126,765
View as Graph

How Do HR 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 HR Leads. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $124,215.
  • California: $123,743.
  • Massachusetts: $122,094.

Top Paying Cities for HR 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: $141,503
  • San Francisco: $139,953
  • Oakland: $137,004

What Skills Can Increase an HR Lead's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 4.48% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 3.99% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Business Administration (Mentioned in 2.02% Job Postings): It is the management of all aspects of a business's performance, decisions, and organization. It includes the day to day operations, aspects including finances and human resources, and ensures the company stays aligned to the goal or mission.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 4.48%
Microsoft Office 3.99%
Business Administration 2.02%
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 an HR Lead's salary.

  • Labor Relations: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Labor Relations $130,138
16%
Planning $127,894
14%
Leadership $126,772
13%
Get Latest Data

HR Lead Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For HR 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 Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, HR Lead positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view HR Lead as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an HR Lead

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$134,626$65.020%

How Education impacts an HR Lead's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many HR 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 an HR Lead with a Bachelor's Degree is between $112,491 and $119,048).

HR Lead Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for HR Lead
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.0%
High School 9.5%
Associates 5.9%
Bachelors 47.3%
Masters 34.1%
Doctorate 2.2%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how an HR 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
$104,542
Average $112,188/year
$123,654
$8,712
Average $9,349/month
$10,305
$2,010
Average $2,157/week
$2,378
$50
Average $54/hour
$59
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $123,654 $10,305 $2,378 $59
Average $112,188 $9,349 $2,157 $54
25th Percentile $104,542 $8,712 $2,010 $50

Most common benefits for HR Lead

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

Common company salaries for HR Lead

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

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FAQ about HR Lead

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

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for HR 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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