Research Summary. After thorough analysis by the Zippia data science team, we have updated the details of principal salary by state for the United States in 2026:
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New York continues to offer the highest principal salary at $132,640
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Hawaii remains at the bottom with the lowest principal salary of $51,515
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The national average salary for principals is now $111,719
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The national hourly pay for principals stands at $53.71
You can read more regarding the specific methodology.
Background
In 2026, salary remains a critical factor in job satisfaction across various demographics. For principals, understanding how much they can expect to earn in their region is essential for career planning.
Many factors influence individual salaries, including experience, school district funding, and geographic location. However, comprehensive data on average salaries for principals by state provides a solid foundation for salary expectations.
New York holds the title for the best salary for principals after accounting for various factors.
Here’s an updated overview of the top ten states for principal salaries:
Let’s delve into the details to provide a comprehensive ranking of all states for principal salaries.
Highest-Paid Principals By State
| Rank | State | Average Principal Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $132,640 | $84,000 | $207,000 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $132,479 | $84,000 | $208,000 |
| 3 | California | $122,066 | $74,000 | $198,000 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $119,787 | $74,000 | $193,000 |
| 5 | Vermont | $118,967 | $72,000 | $194,000 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $118,916 | $75,000 | $187,000 |
| 7 | Maryland | $116,276 | $73,000 | $184,000 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $115,662 | $72,000 | $184,000 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $109,922 | $68,000 | $175,000 |
| 10 | Delaware | $109,816 | $68,000 | $174,000 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $106,051 | $65,000 | $173,000 |
| 12 | Michigan | $104,660 | $65,000 | $167,000 |
| 13 | Washington | $103,658 | $63,000 | $168,000 |
| 14 | Virginia | $103,223 | $64,000 | $164,000 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $100,210 | $64,000 | $156,000 |
| 16 | Ohio | $98,631 | $61,000 | $157,000 |
| 17 | Indiana | $98,295 | $61,000 | $157,000 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $97,441 | $61,000 | $154,000 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $96,376 | $57,000 | $161,000 |
| 20 | Illinois | $95,002 | $59,000 | $151,000 |
| 21 | Oregon | $94,899 | $57,000 | $157,000 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $94,500 | $59,000 | $151,000 |
| 23 | Nevada | $92,979 | $55,000 | $156,000 |
| 24 | Maine | $92,607 | $54,000 | $157,000 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $89,256 | $57,000 | $138,000 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $88,115 | $55,000 | $139,000 |
| 27 | Arizona | $85,992 | $51,000 | $143,000 |
| 28 | Alaska | $85,927 | $53,000 | $137,000 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $85,333 | $53,000 | $135,000 |
| 30 | Texas | $84,349 | $51,000 | $136,000 |
| 31 | Georgia | $83,780 | $52,000 | $132,000 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $83,072 | $51,000 | $132,000 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $81,724 | $51,000 | $129,000 |
| 34 | Idaho | $80,442 | $49,000 | $131,000 |
| 35 | Iowa | $78,881 | $49,000 | $125,000 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $78,861 | $49,000 | $125,000 |
| 37 | Montana | $78,524 | $49,000 | $123,000 |
| 38 | Florida | $77,269 | $48,000 | $123,000 |
| 39 | Utah | $77,187 | $47,000 | $125,000 |
| 40 | Missouri | $75,898 | $47,000 | $120,000 |
| 41 | Alabama | $75,274 | $47,000 | $119,000 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $74,619 | $46,000 | $119,000 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $74,148 | $45,000 | $120,000 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $72,272 | $45,000 | $113,000 |
| 45 | Colorado | $71,853 | $46,000 | $112,000 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $70,601 | $44,000 | $111,000 |
| 47 | Kansas | $69,799 | $44,000 | $109,000 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $69,032 | $43,000 | $108,000 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $68,553 | $43,000 | $107,000 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $51,515 | $32,000 | $80,000 |
Methodology: Principal Salary By State
To accurately evaluate principal salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. We complement this data with actual salaries listed in job postings. Our data science team calculates a weighted average of these figures to provide a comprehensive view of principal salaries across states.
The average annual salary data for principals from these estimates has been ranked, with the state offering the highest salary receiving the top ranking.
Principal Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for principals?
The highest-paid state for principals is New York, with an average salary of $132,640 per year.
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What city pays principals the most?
New York, NY offers the highest average salary for principals at $134,786 per year.
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What is the lowest-paying state for principals?
The lowest-paying state for principals is Hawaii, with an average salary of $51,515 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
