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Assistant principal vs principal associate

The differences between assistant principals and principal associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an assistant principal and a principal associate. Additionally, a principal associate has an average salary of $112,879, which is higher than the $73,607 average annual salary of an assistant principal.

The top three skills for an assistant principal include classroom management, curriculum development and professional development. The most important skills for a principal associate are healthcare, project management, and business development.

Assistant principal vs principal associate overview

Assistant PrincipalPrincipal Associate
Yearly salary$73,607$112,879
Hourly rate$35.39$54.27
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs42,18640,128
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age4747
Years of experience44

What does an assistant principal do?

An assistant principal is responsible for carrying out administrative support tasks in a school or similar establishment. Most of the duties involve producing reports and evaluations, attending meetings, overseeing daily school operations, monitoring classes and faculty performances, implementing school policies and regulations, and coordinating with the principal, school board, and other members of the institution. Furthermore, an assistant principal participates in devising plans and strategies to improve the school curriculum and organize various activities that will help students develop their skills and potential.

What does a principal associate do?

Principal associates work within the education system, having responsibility over students, teachers, counselors, and other staff members. This particular career choice also requires excellent skills in project management, communication, leadership, critical thinking, and decision-making, and those who aspire to this career will be needed to develop business opportunities, securing funding and other resources for the school.

Assistant principal vs principal associate salary

Assistant principals and principal associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

Assistant PrincipalPrincipal Associate
Average salary$73,607$112,879
Salary rangeBetween $57,000 And $94,000Between $78,000 And $162,000
Highest paying CityRedwood City, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateOregonCalifornia
Best paying companyPace UniversityMcKinsey & Company Inc
Best paying industryGovernment-

Differences between assistant principal and principal associate education

There are a few differences between an assistant principal and a principal associate in terms of educational background:

Assistant PrincipalPrincipal Associate
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorEducational LeadershipBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Assistant principal vs principal associate demographics

Here are the differences between assistant principals' and principal associates' demographics:

Assistant PrincipalPrincipal Associate
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 47.4% Female, 52.6%Male, 63.5% Female, 36.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 4.2% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 4.3% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between assistant principal and principal associate duties and responsibilities

Assistant principal example responsibilities.

  • Lead the NCA steering committee to assist with the school improvement process.
  • Create and manage projects that are research base to improve student success in the areas of mathematics for ESL students.
  • Manage special education department budget, student programming and IEP accommodations.
  • Conduct CSE and annual review meetings.
  • Plan, control, and direct the overall activities for students in grade Pre-K - 8th grade.
  • Coordinate RtI interventions and implementation at secondary level.
  • Show more

Principal associate example responsibilities.

  • Develop business opportunities and manage client engagements across multiple industries with a focus on healthcare clients.
  • Manage enterprise email / CRM marketing platform and strategy to enable data-driven, personalize acquisition and engagement programs.
  • Facilitate professional development for curriculum and instruction in the math department.
  • Organize after school tutors for groups of at-risk students.
  • Create an ELA website for teachers as a professional development tool.
  • assist in the supervision of all teachers, Pre-K through 7th grade.
  • Show more

Assistant principal vs principal associate skills

Common assistant principal skills
  • Classroom Management, 8%
  • Curriculum Development, 8%
  • Professional Development, 7%
  • Instructional Program, 5%
  • Math, 4%
  • Student Achievement, 4%
Common principal associate skills
  • Healthcare, 17%
  • Project Management, 15%
  • Business Development, 9%
  • Data Analysis, 8%
  • Java, 6%
  • Professional Development, 4%

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