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The differences between elementary school principals and high school 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 principal. Additionally, a high school principal has an average salary of $96,329, which is higher than the $92,372 average annual salary of an elementary school 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 principal are student achievement, curriculum development, and staff development.
| Elementary School Principal | High School Principal | |
| Yearly salary | $92,372 | $96,329 |
| Hourly rate | $44.41 | $46.31 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 61,347 | 61,948 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| 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.
A High School Principal oversees and supervises the daily operations of a high school. They are typically in charge of setting goals and objectives, establishing budgets and guidelines, creating schedules, spearheading academic programs, developing strategies to accomplish objectives, and conducting regular workforce assessments, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. It is also their responsibility to address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently. Moreover, a High School Principal implements policies and regulations to maintain a healthy and safe learning environment for everyone.
Elementary school principals and high school principals have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Elementary School Principal | High School Principal | |
| Average salary | $92,372 | $96,329 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $129,000 | Between $70,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | Ridgefield, CT | East Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Washington |
| Best paying company | Robbinsdale Area Schools | Jo-Ann Stores |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between an elementary school principal and a high school principal in terms of educational background:
| Elementary School Principal | High School Principal | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| 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 principals' demographics:
| Elementary School Principal | High School Principal | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.8% Female, 57.2% | Male, 64.1% Female, 35.9% |
| 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, 10.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 4.4% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |