Quick answer: The average school principal salary is $103,000/year. Elementary principals average $98,000, middle school $101,000, and high school $110,000. Top-paying states (NY, CA, NJ) pay $135,000-$145,000. Wealthy suburban districts pay up to $165,000. Principals work year-round (~250 days) vs. teachers (~185 days).
School principals earn $85,000-$150,000+ per year, with compensation varying significantly by state, school level, and district wealth.
Pay at a Glance (BLS Data)
Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimates for education administrators, kindergarten through secondary, across all industries:
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $76,280 | $36.67 |
| 25th | $86,040 | $41.37 |
| 50th (median) | $105,870 | $50.90 |
| 75th | $134,630 | $64.73 |
| 90th | $167,770 | $80.66 |
| Average (mean) | $116,100 | $55.82 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (all industries). Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. “Not published” means BLS withheld the estimate, usually because wages are above its top reporting limit.
Average Principal Salary in 2026
| School Level | Average Salary | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary School | $98,000 | $75,000-$130,000 |
| Middle School | $101,000 | $80,000-$140,000 |
| High School | $110,000 | $90,000-$165,000 |
| All Principals | $103,000 | $75,000-$165,000 |
High school principals earn more due to larger student populations and operational complexity.
Principal Salary by State
| Rank | State | Avg Salary | Starting Salary | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $160,570 | $111,830 | $166,590 |
| 2 | California | $152,480 | $103,250 | $159,950 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $148,040 | $86,840 | $156,240 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $145,910 | $103,030 | $137,440 |
| 5 | New York | $143,470 | $87,100 | $138,830 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $140,030 | $100,350 | $137,470 |
| 7 | Maryland | $131,220 | $81,060 | $131,510 |
| 8 | Delaware | $130,130 | $101,350 | $132,710 |
| 9 | Oregon | $126,970 | $76,240 | $130,050 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $126,350 | $81,640 | $128,430 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $125,280 | $85,880 | $126,760 |
| 12 | Utah | $125,180 | $79,220 | $128,880 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $121,780 | $78,570 | $127,000 |
| 14 | Alaska | $121,280 | $102,930 | $125,520 |
| 15 | Illinois | $118,420 | $78,070 | $113,360 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $118,150 | $80,530 | $119,980 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $117,970 | $78,490 | $118,710 |
| 18 | Colorado | $117,650 | $81,340 | $110,530 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $116,560 | $85,370 | $110,580 |
| 20 | Virginia | $115,800 | $78,300 | $106,100 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $114,890 | $82,010 | $117,010 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $112,960 | $81,010 | $107,940 |
| 23 | Iowa | $112,820 | $77,350 | $104,260 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $112,330 | $83,860 | $107,720 |
| 25 | Vermont | $107,740 | $76,900 | $105,350 |
| 26 | Georgia | $107,710 | $81,440 | $103,360 |
| 27 | Nevada | $107,670 | $62,980 | $109,420 |
| 28 | Michigan | $107,240 | $77,340 | $104,020 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $107,060 | $80,220 | $104,910 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $106,210 | $85,510 | $105,480 |
| 31 | Maine | $105,550 | $79,850 | $102,890 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $105,080 | $75,810 | $102,440 |
| 33 | Missouri | $103,640 | $74,570 | $100,400 |
| 34 | Idaho | $101,420 | $76,290 | $101,090 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $100,580 | $70,960 | $97,590 |
| 36 | Indiana | $100,420 | $66,440 | $98,770 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $100,190 | $75,270 | $99,920 |
| 38 | Ohio | $99,990 | $62,160 | $99,590 |
| 39 | Kansas | $98,480 | $77,520 | $100,530 |
| 40 | Florida | $97,750 | $61,030 | $96,490 |
| 41 | Montana | $97,130 | $63,960 | $95,700 |
| 42 | Alabama | $96,800 | $76,150 | $97,480 |
| 43 | Arizona | $96,790 | $62,690 | $97,480 |
| 44 | Texas | $96,510 | $72,230 | $93,910 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $92,320 | $62,300 | $86,630 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $91,960 | $74,770 | $88,390 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $90,740 | $63,240 | $83,180 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $90,510 | $68,090 | $86,330 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $89,440 | $63,470 | $83,360 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $87,000 | $65,400 | $82,800 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $81,700 | $57,740 | $80,650 |
| — | National | $116,100 | $76,280 | $105,870 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 estimates, fetched 2026-09-29. Figures cover Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (cross-industry). Some states are omitted where BLS did not publish a reliable estimate. Northeastern states and California pay significantly more.
Principal Salary by District Type
| District Type | Notes |
|---|---|
| Wealthy Suburban | Top compensation |
| Urban Large District | High cost of living |
| Mid-Size Suburban | Average |
| Rural | Lower but also lower COL |
| Charter School | Variable |
| Private School | Wide range |
Principal vs. Teacher Salary
| Position | Average Salary | Work Calendar | Contract Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher | $66,000 | 180-190 days | School year |
| Principal | $103,000 | 230-261 days | Year-round |
Hourly comparison:
- Teacher: ~$43/hour (based on contract days)
- Principal: ~$50/hour (based on contract days)
Principals work longer hours and year-round but the hourly premium is modest.
Path to Becoming a Principal
| Stage | Duration | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s + teaching cert | 4 years | — |
| Teaching experience | 3-5 years | $45,000-$65,000 |
| Master’s in Ed Leadership | 2 years | While teaching |
| Admin certification | Varies | While teaching |
| Assistant Principal | 2-5 years | $75,000-$100,000 |
| Principal | Career | $90,000-$150,000+ |
Typical timeline: 8-12 years from starting teaching to principalship.
Assistant Principal Salary
| School Level | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Elementary AP | $80,000 |
| Middle School AP | $85,000 |
| High School AP | $92,000 |
| All APs | $85,000 |
Assistant principals earn less than principals at the same school level.
Principal Work Schedule
| Factor | Typical |
|---|---|
| Contract days | 230-261 |
| Hours per day | 9-11 |
| Evening events | 1-3 per week |
| Summer work | Significant |
| Stress level | High |
| Burnout rate | 18% leave within 3 years |
Principals face significant work-life balance challenges.
Principal Salary After Taxes
| Gross Salary | Federal Income Tax | Social Security + Medicare | Take-Home Before State Tax | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $90,000 | $10,970 | $6,885 | $72,145 | $6,012 |
| $116,100 | $16,712 | $8,882 | $90,506 | $7,542 |
| $140,000 | $22,334 | $10,710 | $106,956 | $8,913 |
2026 federal income tax for a single filer taking the standard deduction ($16,100), plus Social Security and Medicare. Not included: state and local income tax, retirement contributions and other pre-tax deductions. For your own situation, use the take-home pay calculator.
Principal Benefits Package
| Benefit | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Health insurance | $15,000-$25,000/year |
| Pension contribution | 10-15% of salary |
| Life insurance | $50,000+ |
| Disability insurance | Included |
| Professional development | $2,000-$5,000 |
| Tuition reimbursement | Often available |
Public school principals typically have strong benefits packages.
Superintendent Salary (Next Step)
| District Size | Superintendent Salary |
|---|---|
| Small (< 3,000 students) | $120,000-$160,000 |
| Medium (3,000-10,000) | $160,000-$220,000 |
| Large (10,000-50,000) | $220,000-$350,000 |
| Very Large (50,000+) | $300,000-$400,000+ |
Superintendents in major urban districts can earn $400,000+.
Principal Job Outlook
| Factor | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Job growth (2025-2035) | -0.3% |
| Turnover rate | High (principal shortage) |
| Retirement wave | Accelerating |
| Competition | Moderate (qualified candidates) |
| Geographic mobility | Helps significantly |
Many districts struggle to fill principal positions.
Career Earnings: Teacher vs. Principal
| Career Path | 30-Year Earnings |
|---|---|
| Teacher (no advancement) | $2.3M |
| Teacher → Principal at year 10 | $3.1M |
| Teacher → Principal → Superintendent | $4.0M |
Challenges of Being a Principal
| Challenge | Impact |
|---|---|
| Political pressure | Parents, board, community |
| Teacher management | Hiring, firing, evaluations |
| Student discipline | Daily responsibility |
| Budget constraints | Doing more with less |
| Testing/accountability | High stakes |
| Work-life balance | Significant sacrifice |
Tips for Maximizing Principal Salary
- Target wealthy districts — Pay varies dramatically by property tax base
- Consider high school — Usually pays more than elementary
- Doctorate (Ed.D.) — Can add $5,000-$15,000 to salary
- Urban districts — Often pay more due to difficulty recruiting
- Negotiate contract — Years of experience, extra duties
- Move to higher-paying states — high-paying states such as New York, California and New Jersey pay considerably more
Related Articles
Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center for Education Statistics, Education Week. Updated March 2026.
Related Salary Guides
See every profession in our salary by profession guides.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024.” bls.gov/oes
- Social Security Administration. “Benefits and Eligibility Information.” ssa.gov/benefits
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