Post job

Assistant principal vs school business manager

The differences between assistant principals and school business managers 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 school business manager. Additionally, an assistant principal has an average salary of $73,607, which is higher than the $62,224 average annual salary of a school business manager.

The top three skills for an assistant principal include classroom management, curriculum development and professional development. The most important skills for a school business manager are K-12, professional development, and payroll.

Assistant principal vs school business manager overview

Assistant PrincipalSchool Business Manager
Yearly salary$73,607$62,224
Hourly rate$35.39$29.92
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs42,18687,493
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
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 school business manager do?

A school business manager is responsible for providing leadership and management of all teaching and non-teaching staff in a school setting and ensuring they perform their duties accordingly to achieve the required standards of learning. The duties and responsibilities include attending senior managerial meetings and taking the lead of all school responsibilities in the absence of the headteacher.

Assistant principal vs school business manager salary

Assistant principals and school business managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Assistant PrincipalSchool Business Manager
Average salary$73,607$62,224
Salary rangeBetween $57,000 And $94,000Between $43,000 And $88,000
Highest paying CityRedwood City, CASacramento, CA
Highest paying stateOregonConnecticut
Best paying companyPace UniversitySelective Insurance
Best paying industryGovernmentEducation

Differences between assistant principal and school business manager education

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

Assistant PrincipalSchool Business Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorEducational LeadershipBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Assistant principal vs school business manager demographics

Here are the differences between assistant principals' and school business managers' demographics:

Assistant PrincipalSchool Business Manager
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 47.4% Female, 52.6%Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1%
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, 11.1% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 4.3% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between assistant principal and school business manager 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

School business manager example responsibilities.

  • Utilize on-line agency managing software which aides in conformation of patient progress note submission to Medicare regulation standards.
  • Provide oversight to school business operations through its closure and transition with regional technical high school.
  • Maintain a computerize accounting system and are responsible for payroll.
  • Set up and train production staff to utilize QuickBooks for assembly company inventory system for accurate information provide to commercial customers.
  • Process rental payments, delinquency notices, evictions, and other property specific communications.

Assistant principal vs school business manager skills

Common assistant principal skills
  • Classroom Management, 8%
  • Curriculum Development, 8%
  • Professional Development, 7%
  • Instructional Program, 5%
  • Math, 4%
  • Student Achievement, 4%
Common school business manager skills
  • K-12, 15%
  • Professional Development, 13%
  • Payroll, 11%
  • Financial Reports, 8%
  • Public Schools, 8%
  • Cash Control, 7%

Browse executive management jobs