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Assistant principal salary
Average assistant principal salary
$73,607
Understanding Assistant Principal Salaries
The average assistant principal salary is reported at $73,607 per year, equating to around $35 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and the specific school district. In states like California and New York, salaries tend to be higher, reflecting the cost of living and demand for educational leadership.
Factors Influencing Salary
Assistant principals often enjoy benefits beyond salary, including health insurance and retirement plans. Experience plays a crucial role in salary determination; those with several years in educational leadership often command higher pay. Additionally, specialized roles within larger school districts may offer increased compensation.
Salary Trends Over Time
Over the past decade, the average salary for assistant principals has seen a steady increase, paralleling growth in the education sector. Tracking these trends can help individuals gauge their earning potential and make informed decisions regarding their career path.
Exploring Opportunities
To maximize earning potential, consider applying for positions in areas with a higher cost of living or those that require specialized skills. This proactive approach can lead to fulfilling roles that not only pay well but also impact student outcomes positively.
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Where can an Assistant Principal earn more?
Assistant principal salary estimates from across the web
Average assistant principal salary by state
The highest-paying states for assistant principals are Oregon, Connecticut, and New York. The lowest average assistant principal salary states are South Carolina, Nevada, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for assistant principals
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $89,539 | $43.05 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $82,850 | $39.83 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $87,283 | $41.96 |
| 4 | New York | $86,790 | $41.73 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $77,553 | $37.29 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $79,893 | $38.41 |
| 7 | Indiana | $78,017 | $37.51 |
| 8 | South Dakota | $79,144 | $38.05 |
| 9 | Ohio | $73,162 | $35.17 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $71,147 | $34.21 |
| 11 | Vermont | $83,616 | $40.20 |
| 12 | Illinois | $72,928 | $35.06 |
| 13 | Alaska | $79,070 | $38.01 |
| 14 | California | $86,505 | $41.59 |
| 15 | Maryland | $76,896 | $36.97 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $79,792 | $38.36 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $71,245 | $34.25 |
| 18 | Washington | $82,030 | $39.44 |
| 19 | Florida | $70,298 | $33.80 |
| 20 | Michigan | $71,408 | $34.33 |
| 21 | Missouri | $70,390 | $33.84 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $68,152 | $32.77 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $67,922 | $32.65 |
| 24 | Delaware | $70,593 | $33.94 |
| 25 | Colorado | $68,198 | $32.79 |
| 26 | Texas | $67,600 | $32.50 |
| 27 | Virginia | $67,272 | $32.34 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $65,304 | $31.40 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $65,649 | $31.56 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $74,768 | $35.95 |
| 31 | Montana | $63,023 | $30.30 |
| 32 | Idaho | $62,471 | $30.03 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $69,574 | $33.45 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $73,914 | $35.54 |
| 35 | Arizona | $62,230 | $29.92 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $65,019 | $31.26 |
| 37 | Maine | $64,575 | $31.05 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $59,549 | $28.63 |
| 39 | Georgia | $62,690 | $30.14 |
| 40 | Nevada | $59,072 | $28.40 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $63,262 | $30.41 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $60,130 | $28.91 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $58,202 | $27.98 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $61,494 | $29.56 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $57,412 | $27.60 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $59,078 | $28.40 |
| 47 | Utah | $61,444 | $29.54 |
| 48 | Iowa | $59,463 | $28.59 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $62,396 | $30.00 |
| 50 | Kansas | $57,642 | $27.71 |
| 51 | Alabama | $58,138 | $27.95 |
Highest paying cities for assistant principals
The highest-paying cities for assistant principals are Redwood City, CA, Danbury, CT, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redwood City, CA | $90,690 | $43.60 |
| 2 | Danbury, CT | $87,097 | $41.87 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $86,838 | $41.75 |
| 4 | Kennewick, WA | $78,432 | $37.71 |
| 5 | Nashua, NH | $77,637 | $37.33 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $73,909 | $35.53 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $73,127 | $35.16 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $71,493 | $34.37 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $71,415 | $34.33 |
| 10 | Kansas City, MO | $70,133 | $33.72 |
| 11 | Laredo, TX | $69,762 | $33.54 |
| 12 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $69,722 | $33.52 |
| 13 | Greensboro, NC | $68,417 | $32.89 |
| 14 | Denver, CO | $68,258 | $32.82 |
| 15 | Little Rock, AR | $65,276 | $31.38 |
| 16 | Albuquerque, NM | $65,255 | $31.37 |
| 17 | Tulsa, OK | $63,348 | $30.46 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $62,009 | $29.81 |
| 19 | New Orleans, LA | $61,592 | $29.61 |
| 20 | Columbia, SC | $59,191 | $28.46 |
Assistant principal salary details
An assistant principal's salary ranges from $57,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $94,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an assistant principal's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $94,000 | $7,833 | $45 |
| 75th Percentile | $83,000 | $6,917 | $40 |
| Average | $73,607 | $6,134 | $35 |
| 25th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| 10th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
Highest paying assistant principal jobs
The highest paying types of assistant principals are chairperson, principal associate, and principal.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairperson | $125,944 | $10,495 | $60.55 | 5,178 |
| School Director | $68,563 | $5,714 | $32.96 | 37,761 |
| Superintendent | $82,458 | $6,871 | $39.64 | 22,580 |
| School Superintendent | $93,341 | $7,778 | $44.88 | 30,220 |
| School Business Manager | $62,224 | $5,185 | $29.92 | 87,493 |
| Department Chairperson | $98,438 | $8,203 | $47.33 | 33,511 |
Top companies hiring assistant principals now:
Which companies pay assistant principals the most?
Assistant principal salaries at Pace University and Sweetwater Union High School District are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average assistant principal salary at companies like Hemet Unified School District and Paramount High School are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pace University | $116,305 | $55.92 |
| 2 | Sweetwater Union High School District | $103,464 | $49.74 |
| 3 | Hemet Unified School District | $98,457 | $47.34 |
| 4 | Paramount High School | $97,109 | $46.69 |
| 5 | Boulder Valley School District | $96,307 | $46.30 |
| 6 | Sacramento City Unified School District | $93,225 | $44.82 |
| 7 | Ontario-Montclair School District | $92,647 | $44.54 |
| 8 | Cincinnati Public Schools | $92,454 | $44.45 |
| 9 | Chicago Public Schools | $91,836 | $44.15 |
| 10 | Point Loma Nazarene University | $90,987 | $43.74 |
| 11 | Montebello Unified School Dst | $90,123 | $43.33 |
| 12 | Northrop Grumman | $89,891 | $43.22 |
| 13 | Union County Public Schools | $89,405 | $42.98 |
| 14 | Danbury Public Schools | $89,186 | $42.88 |
| 15 | Houston ISD Foundation | $88,228 | $42.42 |
| 16 | Anne Arundel County Public Schools | $87,591 | $42.11 |
| 17 | Rowland Unified School District | $87,256 | $41.95 |
| 18 | The Islamic Foundation School in Villa Park, IL | $86,155 | $41.42 |
| 19 | Township High School District 113 | $85,630 | $41.17 |
| 20 | Vt Leeboy, Inc. | $85,558 | $41.13 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Assistant principal salary trends
The average assistant principal salary has risen by $8,236 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average assistant principal earned $65,371 annually, but today, they earn $73,607 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for assistant principals over the last decade.
Compare assistant principal salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average assistant principal salary over time
Compare assistant principal salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Assistant principal salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $73,600 | $35.39 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $72,000 | $34.64 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $71,200 | $34.25 | +1.0% |
| 2022 | $70,500 | $33.91 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | $69,100 | $33.24 | +2.3% |
Recently added assistant principal salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conroe Independent School District (Tx | Assistant Principal-Intermediate School Year) | Conroe, TX | 06/30/2025 | $74,764 |
| Mcps | FY 26: Assistant Principal, Benjamin Banneker Middle School | Burtonsville, MD | 06/29/2025 | $123,551 |
| Montgomery County Public Schools | FY 26: Assistant Principal, Benjamin Banneker Middle School | Burtonsville, MD | 06/29/2025 | $123,551 |
| Sealy ISD | Junior High Assistant Principal | Sealy, TX | 06/29/2025 | $62,791 |
| Zetacharterschools | Assistant Principal of Middle School Stem | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $100,000 |
| Gresham Barlow School District | Assistant Principal-Middle School | Ione, OR | 06/28/2025 | $120,613 |
| Seattle Public Schools | Replacement Administrator (Substitute)-Principal & Assistant Principal | Seattle, WA | 06/28/2025 | $130,792 |
| Oregon Public Schools | Assistant Principal-Middle School | Gresham, OR | 06/28/2025 | $120,613 |
| Northern Valley Regional High School District | Assistant Principal | Demarest, NJ | 06/28/2025 | $130,000 |
| State of Wisconsin | Assistant Principal | Delavan, WI | 06/28/2025 | $79,040 |
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