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The differences between high 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 a high school principal and a high school assistant principal. Additionally, a high school principal has an average salary of $96,329, which is higher than the $91,217 average annual salary of a high school assistant principal.
The top three skills for a high school principal include student achievement, curriculum development and staff development. The most important skills for a high school assistant principal are professional development, curriculum development, and professional growth.
| High School Principal | High School Assistant Principal | |
| Yearly salary | $96,329 | $91,217 |
| Hourly rate | $46.31 | $43.85 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 61,948 | 63,376 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
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.
High school principals and high school assistant principals have different pay scales, as shown below.
| High School Principal | High School Assistant Principal | |
| Average salary | $96,329 | $91,217 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $131,000 | Between $61,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | East Palo Alto, CA | Novato, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Jo-Ann Stores | Sweetwater Union High School District |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a high school principal and a high school assistant principal in terms of educational background:
| High School Principal | High School Assistant Principal | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | 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 high school principals' and high school assistant principals' demographics:
| High School Principal | High School Assistant Principal | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 64.1% Female, 35.9% | Male, 67.4% Female, 32.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |