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The differences between deans and principals can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a dean, becoming a principal takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a principal has an average salary of $111,719, which is higher than the $86,318 average annual salary of a dean.
The top three skills for a dean include curriculum development, oversight and scholarship. The most important skills for a principal are CRM, project management, and financial services.
| Dean | Principal | |
| Yearly salary | $86,318 | $111,719 |
| Hourly rate | $41.50 | $53.71 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 1,183 | 84,015 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A dean is responsible for overseeing the educational operations of the assigned department, enforcing school policies, and monitoring the students' progress by coordinating with the teachers and setting up procedures to improve teaching methods. Deans administer educational training and programs for the students, as well as extra-curricular activities to develop the students' social behavior, maximize their potentials, and increase their self-confidence. They also handle the department's budget, accurately allocating resources and funds to different activities and educational materials.
A principal is responsible for maintaining the orderliness of the school premises and supervising school operations, enforcing strict safety standards, and reiterating regulatory procedures. Principals' duties also include managing and monitoring school budget and expenses, improving security plans, conducting regular meetings and sharing updates with teachers and other school personnel, creating reports for school funding, and setting academic goals for everyone's compliance. A principal must administer excellent leadership, communication, and decision-making skills to handle major administrative tasks in maintaining the school's growth.
Deans and principals have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dean | Principal | |
| Average salary | $86,318 | $111,719 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $150,000 | Between $69,000 And $179,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Altos, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | Palmer College of Chiropractic | KKR & Co. L.P. |
| Best paying industry | Education | Professional |
There are a few differences between a dean and a principal in terms of educational background:
| Dean | Principal | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between deans' and principals' demographics:
| Dean | Principal | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.8% Female, 46.2% | Male, 65.6% Female, 34.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 4.3% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 4.3% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |