Updated June 25, 2024
6 min read
A team leader is responsible for managing a group of individuals working to achieve a common goal. They organize and delegate tasks and motivate team members. Team leaders must communicate effectively with their team to provide feedback, resolve conflicts, and address concerns. They aim to lead by example, demonstrate excellent time management skills, and maintain a positive attitude. Overall, a team leader fosters collaboration and drives success within a team.
How long does it takes to become a team leader?
It typically takes 4-5 years to become a team leader:
- Year 1-4: Accumulating the necessary work experience in relevant duties and skills.
- Year 5: Completing on-site training for 6-12 months.
- Year 6: Completing on-the-job training for 6-12 months.
ScoreTeam LeaderUS Average
Salary
5.4
Avg. Salary $68,817
Avg. Salary $59,228
Stability Level
9.4
Growth Rate 8%
Growth Rate 0.3%
Diversity
8.4
Race
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%
Asian 7.18%
Black or African American 8.87%
Hispanic or Latino 17.01%
Unknown 4.67%
White 61.61%
Gender
female 45.00%
male 55.00%
Age - 42
Race
American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Gender
female 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 42
Stress Level
9.4
Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level
5.2
Complexity Level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work Life Balance
4.6
Work Life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a Team Leader?
Pros
Increased visibility within the company
Opportunity to mentor and develop team members
Greater sense of achievement when team goals are met
Increased autonomy and decision-making power
Higher salary and benefits package
Cons
High levels of responsibility and accountability
Risk of burnout due to workload and stress
Difficult conversations with underperforming team members
Need to navigate office politics and personalities
Risk of micromanaging or overbearing leadership style
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Team Leader career paths
Team leaders often go on to become assistant managers or managers. Operations and senior operations management roles are also common next steps. Additionally, some team leaders move into director or vice president positions. In certain industries, such as retail, team leaders may advance to store manager or branch manager roles. In manufacturing, they might become production supervisors or managers.
Key steps to become a team leader
Explore team leader education requirements
The educational requirements for a team leader are varied, with a high school diploma being the most common, followed by an associate degree. According to a study, 51.67% of team leaders have a high school diploma, 24.91% have an associate degree, while a mere 0.42% have a bachelor's degree.
When it comes to certifications, team leaders often pursue credentials such as the Food Safety Manager Certification, Certified Sales Professional, or Certified Professional - Food Safety. These certifications can enhance their skills and knowledge in specific areas relevant to their team's responsibilities. For instance, a team leader in a food service industry may benefit from a Food Safety Manager Certification.
Most common team leader degrees
Bachelor's
49.9
%
Associate
16.9
%
High School Diploma
16.5
%
Start to develop specific team leader skills
Team leaders require a diverse set of skills. They must be able to assist customers, manage multiple departments, and navigate different reports. They should also be able to communicate clearly and positively with coworkers and management. Additionally, they need to be able to prioritize productivity, answer questions, and make the final decision in uncommon situations.
Skills Percentages Customer Service 26.45% Ladders 8.91% Patients 6.17% Sales Floor 6.01% PET 4.94% Show more
Complete relevant team leader training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New team leaders learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a team leader based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real team leader resumes.
Gain additional team leader certifications
More About CertificationsTeam leader certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific team leader certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for team leaders include Food Safety Manager Certification and Certified Sales Professional (CSP).
Research team leader duties and responsibilities
Team leaders have a wide range of responsibilities. They ensure customer needs are met, whether it's providing information about products or helping with troubleshooting. They also manage departments, balance deposits, and navigate routes. They develop marketing strategies, create user-friendly navigation menus, and investigate escalated customer issues. They also supervise teams, communicate with other caregivers, and maintain quality assurance processes.
As Jessica Tangen Daniels Ph.D., Associate Provost - Innovation and Partnerships, Program Director/Professor, Ed.D. Leadership in Higher Education at Bethel University puts it, "The skills that stand out on an educational leader's resume are those that synergize into a coherent story. The resume reader can imagine how those attributes might translate to a new employment space, with much more confidence than if those same characteristics were merely listed as skills."
- Manage ACD metrics and methodology, including reporting to Sr. Management.
- Set the highest standards for achieving company s KPIs, and holding staff individually accountable thereof.
- Lead and conduct daily port operations for all DOD cargo transiting through the state of Florida.
- Manage inventory and stock groceries, clothes and office supplies, handle supplies requests, revise logbook.
Get team leader experience
Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a team leader. The most common roles before becoming a team leader include cashier, customer service representative team lead and sales associate.
Prepare your team leader resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your team leader resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a team leader resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Team Leader Resume templates
Build a professional
Team Leader
resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume.
Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Team Leader resume.
Apply for team leader jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a team leader job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Team Leader Job
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Average team leader salary
The average Team Leader salary in the United States is $68,817 per year or $33 per hour. Team leader salaries range between $37,000 and $126,000 per year.
Average
Team Leader
Salary
$68,817Yearly
$33.09
hourly
More team leader salary info
What Am I Worth?
How do team leaders rate their job?
5/5
Based On 1 Ratings
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
2 Stars
1 Star
Team Leader reviews
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros
Team work , layout understand ing, and clients conversations skills
Cons
On site rudly behavior
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros
Meting with targets. getting paid more then team mates.Doing parties as a team. fixing the issues of guies.
Cons
less offs and getting familiar with new team mates often. I do not like much stress also some time.
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Pros
A great leader, leads by example.Leading organization with team effort, to learn and grow.
Cons
No effort in team work, disorganized, no leadership.
Team Leader FAQs
How long does it take to become a Team Leader?
How do you get a team lead position?
What are a team leader's responsibilities?
What are the 5 qualities of a team leader?
Why do you want to be a team leader?
Team Lead vs. Manager
Have more questions?
See all answers to common sales questions.Search for team leader jobs
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Updated June 25, 2024
Zippia Team
Editorial Staff
The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.
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Updated June 25, 2024
