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High school principal vs teacher

The differences between high school principals and teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a high school principal has an average salary of $96,329, which is higher than the $47,989 average annual salary of a teacher.

The top three skills for a high school principal include student achievement, curriculum development and staff development. The most important skills for a teacher are ESL, handle scheduling, and kids.

High school principal vs teacher overview

High School PrincipalTeacher
Yearly salary$96,329$47,989
Hourly rate$46.31$23.07
Growth rate5%4%
Number of jobs61,94871,918
Job satisfaction-4.14
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4742
Years of experience4-

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 teacher do?

Being a teacher is one of the most passionate professions, among others. Teachers educate, motivate, and guide every generation of learners to prepare them for the real world. Every teacher is unique and has their own teaching styles and methods depending on the subject they teach and the age of their students. Oftentimes they also function as a parent, counselor, coach, friend, and even a lawmaker. There is essentially no limit to the roles a teacher portrays.

High school principal vs teacher salary

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

High School PrincipalTeacher
Average salary$96,329$47,989
Salary rangeBetween $70,000 And $131,000Between $32,000 And $70,000
Highest paying CityEast Palo Alto, CABaltimore, MD
Highest paying stateWashingtonMaryland
Best paying companyJo-Ann StoresKing Low Heywood Thomas
Best paying industryEducationEducation

Differences between high school principal and teacher education

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

High School PrincipalTeacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorEducational LeadershipElementary Education
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

High school principal vs teacher demographics

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

High School PrincipalTeacher
Average age4742
Gender ratioMale, 64.1% Female, 35.9%Male, 25.7% Female, 74.3%
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, 10.1% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 68.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage16%9%

Differences between high school principal and teacher 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.

Teacher example responsibilities.

  • Work closely with co-teacher to manage and co-teach curriculum to a large group.
  • Target at risk and high achieving students using levele readers and DRA strategies.
  • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
  • Develop social studies and geography curriculum.
  • Provide kindergarten readiness in approaching phonemic awareness, phonics, and introductory math skills.
  • Attend and participate in ESL professional development activities, conferences/workshops, curriculum/program planning, & special events and activities.
  • Show more

High school principal vs teacher 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 teacher skills
  • ESL, 17%
  • Handle Scheduling, 15%
  • Kids, 12%
  • Classroom Management, 7%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Curriculum Development, 4%

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