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The differences between elementary school principals and middle 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 middle school principal. Additionally, a middle school principal has an average salary of $92,607, 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 middle school principal are professional growth, instructional program, and student achievement.
| Elementary School Principal | Middle School Principal | |
| Yearly salary | $92,372 | $92,607 |
| Hourly rate | $44.41 | $44.52 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 61,347 | 59,247 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| 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 middle school principal is an individual who is responsible for managing the operations of a school that caters to children from the fifth to the eighth grades. This principal must supervise the responsibilities of all employees of the school, such as teachers, maintenance workers, and administrative staff members. The principal is required to conduct regular staff and parents' meetings to create a cooperative relationship that supports student learning. This principle must also lead and direct the development of educational programs that can optimize learning among middle school students.
Elementary school principals and middle school principals have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Elementary School Principal | Middle School Principal | |
| Average salary | $92,372 | $92,607 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $129,000 | Between $62,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Ridgefield, CT | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Robbinsdale Area Schools | Paulding County High School |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between an elementary school principal and a middle school principal in terms of educational background:
| Elementary School Principal | Middle School Principal | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| 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 middle school principals' demographics:
| Elementary School Principal | Middle School Principal | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.8% Female, 57.2% | Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6% |
| 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, 11.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 4.3% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |