What are the main factors that influence a Category Leader's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

What industry pays the highest salary for Category Leader?

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Category Leader roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

How does experience change A Category Leader's salary?

A Category Leader's salary grows with experience: starting around $128,433 for beginners, reaching about $181,729 at mid-level, and approach $281,418 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Category Leader?

Category Leader salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Category Leader roles are District of Columbia $312,256, California $311,071, Massachusetts $306,926. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Category Leader roles make?

Salaries for Category Leader level roles vary by specialization: Category Director: $286,918; Category Lead: $285,163; SVP of Category: $280,990; Expert Category Leader: $280,407; VP of Category: $218,000.

Category Leader Salary in Colorado

How much does a Category Leader make in Colorado? As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Category Leader in Colorado is $287,748 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $138.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $345,800
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $269,658 to $318,135
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $253,188

10% $253,188

50% (Median) $287,748

90% $345,800

Category Leader Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$318,135	$26,511	$6,118	$153
Average	$287,748	$23,979	$5,534	$138
25th Percentile	$269,658	$22,472	$5,186	$130

Salary Factors Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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Key Factors That Influence Category Leader Salaries

A Category Leader'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 Leader Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Category Leader'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): $128,433
Early Career (1-2 years): $147,963
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $181,729
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $218,313
Expert (over 8 years): $281,418

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Category Management Manager	less than 1 year	$128,433
Category Management Senior Manager	1-2 years	$147,963
Category Management Director	2-4 years	$181,729
VP of Category Management	5-8 years	$218,313
Category Leader	over 8 years	$281,418

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

District of Columbia: $312,256.
California: $311,071.
Massachusetts: $306,926.

District of Columbia $312,256 California $311,071 Massachusetts $306,926 Washington $305,798 New Jersey $305,685 Alaska $305,290 Connecticut $301,398 New York $299,819

Hawaii $294,770 Rhode Island $292,401 Maryland $290,794 Minnesota $288,594 Colorado $287,748 Illinois $287,466 Oregon $286,394 Delaware $285,605

New Hampshire $285,108 Virginia $283,997 Pennsylvania $280,754 Nevada $279,118 North Dakota $278,582 Michigan $277,736 Wisconsin $277,426 Vermont $276,806

Texas $275,085 Maine $274,972 Arizona $274,803 Ohio $274,606 Georgia $272,011 Indiana $270,714 Wyoming $270,460 Utah $270,065

Iowa $269,896 Kansas $268,542 Louisiana $268,147 North Carolina $268,006 Missouri $267,950 Florida $266,850 Montana $266,258 Nebraska $265,694

Kentucky $265,384 South Carolina $264,256 Tennessee $263,550 Idaho $263,268 New Mexico $261,210 Oklahoma $260,758 Alabama $259,095 South Dakota $256,303

Arkansas $254,780 West Virginia $253,962 Mississippi $251,508

Top Paying Cities for Category Leader

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:

Glen Haven: $282,113
Hygiene: $291,919
Johnstown: $282,742

Glen Haven, CO $282,113

Hygiene, CO $291,919

Johnstown, CO $282,742

Laporte, CO $279,609

Livermore, CO $278,701

Loveland, CO $281,859

Lyons, CO $291,406

Masonville, CO $279,787

Mead, CO $285,954

Milliken, CO $282,350

Niwot, CO $294,209

Red Feather Lakes, CO $279,468

Severance, CO $280,009

Timnath, CO $279,648

Wellington, CO $278,083

Windsor, CO $280,052

Brighton, CO $286,992

Ault, CO $279,519

Briggsdale, CO $279,595

Carr, CO $274,786

Eastlake, CO $287,740

Eaton, CO $280,401

Evans, CO $281,828

Fort Lupton, CO $286,174

Galeton, CO $280,430

Gilcrest, CO $283,368

Gill, CO $280,889

Greeley, CO $281,135

Henderson, CO $287,438

Hudson, CO $285,232

Keenesburg, CO $283,856

Kersey, CO $280,923

La Salle, CO $282,880

Lucerne, CO $280,833

Nunn, CO $278,630

Orchard, CO $279,561

Pierce, CO $279,696

Ohio City, CO $282,573

Parlin, CO $281,245

Penrose, CO $278,788

Pitkin, CO $282,223

Poncha Springs, CO $280,311

Powderhorn, CO $280,658

Rockvale, CO $277,522

Sargents, CO $279,837

Twin Lakes, CO $289,079

Westcliffe, CO $277,677

Wetmore, CO $275,892

Durango, CO $281,445

Cahone, CO $280,751

Cortez, CO $280,540

Dolores, CO $281,208

Dove Creek, CO $280,472

Egnar, CO $280,627

Hesperus, CO $278,986

Lewis, CO $281,247

Mancos, CO $280,534

Marvel, CO $278,977

Mesa Verde National Park, CO $279,082

Pleasant View, CO $279,944

Rico, CO $281,276

Towaoc, CO $279,369

Yellow Jacket, CO $280,912

Montrose, CO $282,328

Austin, CO $282,694

Bedrock, CO $280,556

Cedaredge, CO $282,982

Cory, CO $282,627

Crawford, CO $281,826

Delta, CO $282,322

Eckert, CO $282,765

Hotchkiss, CO $282,590

Lazear, CO $282,378

Naturita, CO $281,126

Norwood, CO $281,236

Nucla, CO $281,558

Olathe, CO $282,012

Ophir, CO $281,541

Ouray, CO $281,496

Paonia, CO $283,887

Paradox, CO $280,712

Placerville, CO $281,281

Redvale, CO $281,369

Ridgway, CO $281,456

Silverton, CO $280,982

Somerset, CO $284,747

Telluride, CO $281,594

Grand Junction, CO $284,065

Platteville, CO $283,997

Roggen, CO $281,067

Weldona, CO $278,898

Wiggins, CO $280,390

Fort Morgan, CO $279,011

Log Lane Village, CO $279,925

Akron, CO $276,989

Amherst, CO $276,101

Atwood, CO $277,959

Brush, CO $277,939

Crook, CO $277,169

Eckley, CO $276,295

Fleming, CO $277,700

Grover, CO $277,480

Haxtun, CO $277,643

Hereford, CO $275,709

Hillrose, CO $278,213

Holyoke, CO $276,803

Idalia, CO $275,415

Iliff, CO $277,897

Julesburg, CO $276,777

Lindon, CO $275,802

Merino, CO $278,202

New Raymer, CO $278,140

Otis, CO $277,237

Ovid, CO $276,873

Padroni, CO $277,192

Paoli, CO $277,646

Peetz, CO $277,116

Sedgwick, CO $276,975

Snyder, CO $277,993

Sterling, CO $278,436

Stoneham, CO $278,154

Vernon, CO $275,677

Woodrow, CO $276,377

Wray, CO $276,227

Yuma, CO $277,152

Anton, CO $275,872

Arapahoe, CO $273,698

Arriba, CO $274,690

Bethune, CO $275,097

Burlington, CO $274,840

Calhan, CO $279,189

Cascade, CO $281,484

Cheyenne Wells, CO $274,095

Cope, CO $275,742

Cripple Creek, CO $280,954

Divide, CO $281,104

Flagler, CO $274,972

Florissant, CO $280,875

Fountain, CO $279,163

Genoa, CO $274,877

Green Mountain Falls, CO $281,414

Guffey, CO $280,573

Hugo, CO $273,193

Joes, CO $276,016

Karval, CO $271,608

Kirk, CO $275,787

Kit Carson, CO $273,754

Limon, CO $276,535

Lake George, CO $281,298

Manitou Springs, CO $281,484

Matheson, CO $276,332

Peyton, CO $280,506

Ramah, CO $274,547

Rush, CO $275,201

Seibert, CO $274,857

Simla, CO $277,590

Stratton, CO $275,130

U S A F Academy, CO $281,467

Victor, CO $280,827

Vona, CO $275,018

Wild Horse, CO $273,227

Woodland Park, CO $281,253

Yoder, CO $276,261

Colorado Springs, CO $281,487

Clifton, CO $283,887

Fruita, CO $283,182

Gateway, CO $281,188

Glade Park, CO $282,161

Loma, CO $283,284

Mack, CO $282,531

Palisade, CO $283,374

Whitewater, CO $282,141

Glenwood Springs, CO $286,803

Dinosaur, CO $282,065

Aspen, CO $292,176

Snowmass Village, CO $292,165

Avon, CO $289,542

Basalt, CO $291,245

Carbondale, CO $290,162

Collbran, CO $283,095

Craig, CO $285,173

De Beque, CO $283,061

Eagle, CO $288,357

Edwards, CO $288,975

Parachute, CO $284,536

Battlement Mesa, CO $284,274

Gypsum, CO $286,922

Hamilton, CO $286,389

Hayden, CO $285,579

Maybell, CO $282,418

Meeker, CO $286,414

Meredith, CO $290,289

Mesa, CO $282,956

Minturn, CO $288,659

Molina, CO $282,787

New Castle, CO $285,813

Rangely, CO $283,213

Red Cliff, CO $288,622

Rifle, CO $285,106

Silt, CO $284,990

Slater, CO $283,817

Snowmass, CO $291,578

Wolcott, CO $288,529

Woody Creek, CO $292,156

Vail, CO $289,897

Pueblo, CO $272,942

Colorado City, CO $274,809

Aguilar, CO $276,007

Arlington, CO $271,148

Avondale, CO $273,672

Beulah, CO $274,826

Boncarbo, CO $276,143

Boone, CO $274,558

Branson, CO $273,884

Campo, CO $272,869

Cheraw, CO $273,393

Crowley, CO $273,977

Eads, CO $273,588

Fort Lyon, CO $273,286

Fowler, CO $274,070

Gardner, CO $276,752

Granada, CO $274,203

Hartman, CO $274,727

Hasty, CO $273,887

Haswell, CO $272,268

Hoehne, CO $275,697

Holly, CO $273,861

Kim, CO $273,602

La Junta, CO $273,779

Lamar, CO $274,614

Las Animas, CO $273,627

La Veta, CO $277,234

Mc Clave, CO $273,929

Manzanola, CO $273,568

Model, CO $273,985

Olney Springs, CO $273,100

Ordway, CO $271,740

Pritchett, CO $273,616

Rocky Ford, CO $273,173

Rye, CO $275,229

Sheridan Lake, CO $273,695

Springfield, CO $274,177

Sugar City, CO $271,013

Swink, CO $273,506

Trinchera, CO $274,516

Trinidad, CO $275,706

Two Buttes, CO $274,163

Vilas, CO $274,121

Walsenburg, CO $275,773

Walsh, CO $273,833

Weston, CO $276,665

Wiley, CO $273,678

Alamosa, CO $279,341

Antonito, CO $279,163

Arboles, CO $279,727

Arvada, CO $287,751

Aurora, CO $287,553

Bayfield, CO $280,514

Broomfield, CO $289,014

Commerce City, CO $287,074

Dupont, CO $287,624

Eldorado Springs, CO $294,471

Lafayette, CO $291,860

Louisville, CO $292,221

Westminster, CO $287,618

Wheat Ridge, CO $287,604

Agate, CO $277,415

Bennett, CO $284,626

Byers, CO $281,228

Castle Rock, CO $282,474

Deer Trail, CO $279,372

Elbert, CO $280,689

Elizabeth, CO $283,055

Englewood, CO $287,553

Franktown, CO $282,288

Kiowa, CO $281,019

Larkspur, CO $281,558

Littleton, CO $287,269

Lone Tree, CO $286,510

Louviers, CO $286,112

Monument, CO $281,281

Palmer Lake, CO $281,309

Parker, CO $285,461

Sedalia, CO $282,618

Strasburg, CO $283,721

Watkins, CO $285,850

Denver, CO $287,522

Thornton, CO $287,748

Boulder, CO $295,893

Golden, CO $287,582

Alma, CO $285,963

Bailey, CO $285,314

Black Hawk, CO $290,455

Bond, CO $288,501

Breckenridge, CO $286,575

Buffalo Creek, CO $284,327

Burns, CO $286,648

Central City, CO $288,823

Clark, CO $283,932

Climax, CO $286,905

Coalmont, CO $283,442

Como, CO $282,474

Conifer, CO $286,056

Cowdrey, CO $282,297

Dillon, CO $286,403

Dumont, CO $287,793

Evergreen, CO $287,082

Empire, CO $286,479

Fairplay, CO $282,737

Fraser, CO $286,803

Frisco, CO $288,171

Georgetown, CO $286,265

Granby, CO $286,039

Grand Lake, CO $285,881

Grant, CO $283,848

Hartsel, CO $281,231

Hot Sulphur Springs, CO $285,655

Idaho Springs, CO $287,305

Idledale, CO $287,286

Indian Hills, CO $287,139

Jamestown, CO $295,416

Jefferson, CO $283,253

Kittredge, CO $287,167

Kremmling, CO $285,627

Leadville, CO $286,555

Mc Coy, CO $286,603

Morrison, CO $287,077

Nederland, CO $292,729

Oak Creek, CO $286,093

Parshall, CO $287,322

Phippsburg, CO $286,375

Pine, CO $284,671

Pinecliffe, CO $294,105

Rand, CO $283,461

Rollinsville, CO $291,364

Shawnee, CO $284,604

Silver Plume, CO $285,052

Steamboat Springs, CO $285,560

Tabernash, CO $287,472

Toponas, CO $286,267

Walden, CO $283,038

Ward, CO $291,959

Winter Park, CO $287,841

Yampa, CO $286,657

Silverthorne, CO $287,926

Longmont, CO $290,780

Allenspark, CO $289,460

Estes Park, CO $285,114

Bellvue, CO $281,465

Berthoud, CO $284,914

Dacono, CO $288,236

Drake, CO $281,566

Erie, CO $289,528

Firestone, CO $287,520

Fort Collins, CO $279,457

Frederick, CO $287,531

Blanca, CO $278,351

Capulin, CO $279,781

Center, CO $279,552

Chama, CO $277,398

Chimney Rock, CO $279,846

Chromo, CO $277,968

Conejos, CO $278,991

Creede, CO $280,455

Crestone, CO $278,481

Del Norte, CO $279,846

Fort Garland, CO $277,725

San Luis, CO $276,597

Homelake, CO $279,584

Hooper, CO $278,656

Ignacio, CO $279,307

Jaroso, CO $277,206

La Jara, CO $279,440

Manassa, CO $279,158

Moffat, CO $278,847

Monte Vista, CO $279,750

Mosca, CO $278,303

Pagosa Springs, CO $279,823

Romeo, CO $279,978

Saguache, CO $279,809

Sanford, CO $278,410

San Pablo, CO $276,980

South Fork, CO $280,125

Villa Grove, CO $279,223

Salida, CO $280,320

Almont, CO $287,537

Buena Vista, CO $287,097

Canon City, CO $279,070

Cimarron, CO $280,954

Coal Creek, CO $277,415

Coaldale, CO $279,634

Cotopaxi, CO $278,850

Crested Butte, CO $289,048

Florence, CO $276,978

Monarch, CO $280,906

Granite, CO $285,122

Gunnison, CO $281,171

Hillside, CO $278,746

Howard, CO $280,139

Lake City, CO $280,937

Nathrop, CO $281,163

Category Leader Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Category Leader roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 67% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Category Leader positions in Transportation or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Category Leader as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Category Leader

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Internet	$374,072	$180.0	30%
Biotechnology	$359,685	$173.0	25%
Software & Networking	$345,298	$166.0	20%
Insurance	$330,910	$159.0	15%
Chemicals	$302,135	$145.0	5%

Category Leader Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Category Leader'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.

$269,658

Average $287,748/year

$318,135

$22,472

Average $23,979/month

$26,511

$5,186

Average $5,534/week

$6,118

$130

Average $138/hour

$153

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$318,135	$26,511	$6,118	$153
Average	$287,748	$23,979	$5,534	$138
25th Percentile	$269,658	$22,472	$5,186	$130

Find Your Next Category Leader Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Category Leader job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

US Foods | MANASSAS, VA

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Music & Arts, a leading national music retailer and lesson provider, seeks a Sales Leader to drive retail performance in our student‑focused environment. T... more

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Store Leader

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Music & Arts seeks a Store Leader to drive sales, customer service, and lesson growth in our student-focused music retail environment. You will lead day-to... more

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Edward Jones is seeking a Team Leader to guide a client-focused branch team within our Finance & Insurance business. In this role, you will lead and coach ... more

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Category Leader Salary in Colorado

Check out Category Leader Job Openings in Colorado

Key Factors That Influence Category Leader Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Category Leader Salaries?

How Do Category Leader Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Category Leader

Category Leader Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for a Category Leader

Category Leader Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Find Your Next Category Leader Job

For Employees

For Employers

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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Category Leader Salary in Colorado

Check out Category Leader Job Openings in Colorado

Key Factors That Influence Category Leader Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Category Leader Salaries?

How Do Category Leader Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Category Leader

Category Leader Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for a Category Leader

Category Leader Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Salaries of jobs related to Category Leader

Find Your Next Category Leader Job

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