Best cities for a high school principal
The best cities for high school principals are Newark, NJ, Oakland, CA, and Jersey City, NJ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for high school principals vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for high school principals in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a high school principal or considering a move, this list of the best cities for high school principals to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for high school principals. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a high school principal. While the absolute best city for high school principals is Newark, NJ, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for high school principals in 2024.
If you're looking for a high school principal job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for high school principals in 2026
1. Newark, NJ
Total high school principal jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $106,624 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 10.33 2. Oakland, CA
Total high school principal jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $106,404 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location quotient: 56.57 3. Jersey City, NJ
Total high school principal jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $106,659 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 5.48 4. Seattle, WA
Total high school principal jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $108,680 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Stockton, CA
Total high school principal jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $103,463 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location quotient: 50.75 6. Fort Wayne, IN
Total high school principal jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $92,623 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. San Jose, CA
Total high school principal jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $106,864 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location quotient: 7.63 8. Portland, OR
Total high school principal jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $103,762 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Chicago, IL
Total high school principal jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $95,411 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 2.43 10. Fresno, CA
Total high school principal jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $103,269 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location quotient: 32.21
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Best cities for high school principals
- Newark, NJ
- Oakland, CA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Seattle, WA
- Stockton, CA
- Fort Wayne, IN
- San Jose, CA
- Portland, OR
- Chicago, IL
- Fresno, CA
- (2 high school principal jobs)
- (9 high school principal jobs)
- (3 high school principal jobs)
- (0 high school principal jobs)
- (3 high school principal jobs)
- (0 high school principal jobs)
- (9 high school principal jobs)
- (0 high school principal jobs)
- (4 high school principal jobs)
- (3 high school principal jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a high school principal
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark, NJ | $106,624 | $76,000 | 281,764 | 2 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $106,404 | $72,000 | 420,005 | 9 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $106,659 | $76,000 | 264,152 | 3 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $108,680 | $76,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 5 | Stockton, CA | $103,463 | $70,000 | 307,072 | 3 |
| 6 | Fort Wayne, IN | $92,623 | $66,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $106,864 | $72,000 | 1,025,350 | 9 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $103,762 | $72,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $95,411 | $68,000 | 2,704,958 | 4 |
| 10 | Fresno, CA | $103,269 | $70,000 | 522,053 | 3 |
| 11 | Indianapolis, IN | $90,712 | $65,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $85,094 | $61,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 13 | Toledo, OH | $84,352 | $60,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 14 | Pittsburgh, PA | $83,957 | $60,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $83,958 | $60,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 16 | Cincinnati, OH | $82,240 | $59,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $86,216 | $61,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 18 | Detroit, MI | $77,982 | $56,000 | 672,795 | 5 |
| 19 | Sacramento, CA | $101,654 | $69,000 | 495,234 | 2 |
| 20 | Milwaukee, WI | $82,482 | $59,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 21 | Fremont, CA | $106,514 | $72,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 22 | Madison, WI | $82,054 | $59,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 23 | San Francisco, CA | $106,888 | $73,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 24 | Atlanta, GA | $85,897 | $60,000 | 472,522 | - |
| 25 | Chula Vista, CA | $95,690 | $67,000 | 267,172 | 5 |
| 26 | Anchorage, AK | $88,953 | $69,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 27 | Los Angeles, CA | $98,692 | $68,000 | 3,976,322 | 1 |
| 28 | Baltimore, MD | $95,829 | $68,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 29 | Nashville, TN | $71,992 | $51,000 | 660,388 | 9 |
| 30 | Bakersfield, CA | $101,440 | $69,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 31 | Long Beach, CA | $98,151 | $68,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 32 | El Paso, TX | $81,263 | $56,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 33 | Anaheim, CA | $97,925 | $68,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 34 | Tucson, AZ | $78,970 | $55,000 | 530,706 | 3 |
| 35 | Brookhaven, NY | $92,414 | $66,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 36 | Islip, NY | $92,388 | $66,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 37 | Austin, TX | $78,493 | $54,000 | 947,890 | 6 |
| 38 | Albuquerque, NM | $76,286 | $53,000 | 559,277 | 4 |
| 39 | Santa Ana, CA | $97,783 | $68,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 40 | Oyster Bay, NY | $92,308 | $66,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 41 | San Antonio, TX | $78,294 | $53,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 42 | Irvine, CA | $97,608 | $68,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 43 | New York, NY | $92,214 | $65,000 | 8,537,673 | 5 |
| 44 | Hempstead, NY | $92,298 | $65,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 45 | Houston, TX | $77,653 | $53,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 46 | Riverside, CA | $97,396 | $67,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 47 | San Diego, CA | $95,938 | $67,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 48 | Fort Worth, TX | $75,636 | $52,000 | 854,113 | 3 |
| 49 | Glendale, AZ | $79,055 | $55,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 50 | Chandler, AZ | $79,011 | $55,000 | 247,477 | - |
Highest paying cities for high school principals
| Rank | City | Avg. high school principal salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Palo Alto, CA | $107,155 |
| 2 | Grants Pass, OR | $103,670 |
| 3 | Niles, IL | $95,545 |
| 4 | Albany, NY | $91,550 |
| 5 | Harrisburg, PA | $85,555 |
| 6 | Hartford, CT | $85,113 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $85,022 |
| 8 | Great Falls, MT | $81,017 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $78,493 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $77,982 |
| 11 | Albuquerque, NM | $76,286 |
| 12 | Boulder, CO | $75,427 |
| 13 | Brooklyn Center, MN | $74,293 |
| 14 | Davenport, IA | $72,237 |
| 15 | Saint Louis, MO | $69,580 |
| 16 | Kailua, HI | $67,112 |
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Updated January 8, 2025