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The differences between elementary school principals and high school assistant principals can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an elementary school principal and a high school assistant principal. Additionally, an elementary school principal has an average salary of $92,372, which is higher than the $91,217 average annual salary of a high school assistant principal.
The top three skills for an elementary school principal include professional development, student achievement and school administration. The most important skills for a high school assistant principal are professional development, curriculum development, and professional growth.
| Elementary School Principal | High School Assistant Principal | |
| Yearly salary | $92,372 | $91,217 |
| Hourly rate | $44.41 | $43.85 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 61,347 | 63,376 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An Elementary School Principal is responsible for managing public and private schools from kindergarten to middle school. They implement elementary curriculums, set performance goals, prepare budget reports, and perform other duties, as necessary.
The High School Assistant Principal handles the educational growth of all enrolled students. They provide help to the principal in all administrative duties and molds students' behavior. Included in the tasks are instilling discipline in the youth and readying them to face the world upon graduation. Other tasks are organizing activities, instructor and teacher scheduling, subject, and other extracurricular activities. It is also the Assistant Principal's job to take the helm once the principal is absent or unable to perform duties.
Elementary school principals and high school assistant principals have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Elementary School Principal | High School Assistant Principal | |
| Average salary | $92,372 | $91,217 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $129,000 | Between $61,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Ridgefield, CT | Novato, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Robbinsdale Area Schools | Sweetwater Union High School District |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between an elementary school principal and a high school assistant principal in terms of educational background:
| Elementary School Principal | High School Assistant Principal | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Educational Leadership | Educational Leadership |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between elementary school principals' and high school assistant principals' demographics:
| Elementary School Principal | High School Assistant Principal | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.8% Female, 57.2% | Male, 67.4% Female, 32.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 4.3% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 4.3% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |