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High school principal vs school business manager

The differences between high school principals and school business managers 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 school business manager. Additionally, a high school principal has an average salary of $96,329, which is higher than the $62,224 average annual salary of a school business manager.

The top three skills for a high school principal include student achievement, curriculum development and staff development. The most important skills for a school business manager are K-12, professional development, and payroll.

High school principal vs school business manager overview

High School PrincipalSchool Business Manager
Yearly salary$96,329$62,224
Hourly rate$46.31$29.92
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs61,94887,493
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4747
Years of experience44

What does a high school principal do?

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.

What does a school business manager do?

A school business manager is responsible for providing leadership and management of all teaching and non-teaching staff in a school setting and ensuring they perform their duties accordingly to achieve the required standards of learning. The duties and responsibilities include attending senior managerial meetings and taking the lead of all school responsibilities in the absence of the headteacher.

High school principal vs school business manager salary

High school principals and school business managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

High School PrincipalSchool Business Manager
Average salary$96,329$62,224
Salary rangeBetween $70,000 And $131,000Between $43,000 And $88,000
Highest paying CityEast Palo Alto, CASacramento, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonConnecticut
Best paying companyJo-Ann StoresSelective Insurance
Best paying industryEducationEducation

Differences between high school principal and school business manager education

There are a few differences between a high school principal and a school business manager in terms of educational background:

High School PrincipalSchool Business Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorEducational LeadershipBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

High school principal vs school business manager demographics

Here are the differences between high school principals' and school business managers' demographics:

High School PrincipalSchool Business Manager
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 64.1% Female, 35.9%Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1%
Race ratioBlack 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, 11.1% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 4.3% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between high school principal and school business manager duties and responsibilities

High school principal example responsibilities.

  • Facilitate teacher lead PBIS committee to implement effective school wide discipline campaigns and activities for students.
  • Create a PBIS system for teachers on how to manage behavior on a daily basis and reward positive outcomes.
  • Lead counselor meetings, IEP's, conduct parent/teacher meetings.
  • Assist in coordinating, developing, monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the IEP.
  • Co-Design kindergarten readiness program that will bring in-home and wrap around services to academically at-risk kindergarten students.
  • Result in international interest in available ESL programs.

School business manager example responsibilities.

  • Utilize on-line agency managing software which aides in conformation of patient progress note submission to Medicare regulation standards.
  • Provide oversight to school business operations through its closure and transition with regional technical high school.
  • Maintain a computerize accounting system and are responsible for payroll.
  • Set up and train production staff to utilize QuickBooks for assembly company inventory system for accurate information provide to commercial customers.
  • Process rental payments, delinquency notices, evictions, and other property specific communications.

High school principal vs school business manager skills

Common high school principal skills
  • Student Achievement, 8%
  • Curriculum Development, 7%
  • Staff Development, 6%
  • Instructional Program, 6%
  • Professional Growth, 6%
  • Student Learning, 6%
Common school business manager skills
  • K-12, 15%
  • Professional Development, 13%
  • Payroll, 11%
  • Financial Reports, 8%
  • Public Schools, 8%
  • Cash Control, 7%

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