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The differences between middle school principals and school superintendents can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a middle school principal and a school superintendent. Additionally, a school superintendent has an average salary of $93,341, which is higher than the $92,607 average annual salary of a middle school principal.
The top three skills for a middle school principal include professional growth, instructional program and student achievement. The most important skills for a school superintendent are curriculum development, K-12, and student achievement.
| Middle School Principal | School Superintendent | |
| Yearly salary | $92,607 | $93,341 |
| Hourly rate | $44.52 | $44.88 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 59,247 | 30,220 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A school superintendent leads and oversees a school district, working with school leaders to ensure that operations run smoothly and efficiently according to standards and regulations. They are primarily in charge of establishing short and long-term goals, developing strategies to meet them. They are also responsible for supervising the employment procedures, selecting the ideal resources to support the students' and schools' needs, monitoring operations, and solving issues and concerns when any arise. Moreover, a school superintendent has the authority to make significant decisions while adhering to the district's vision and mission.
Middle school principals and school superintendents have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Middle School Principal | School Superintendent | |
| Average salary | $92,607 | $93,341 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $137,000 | Between $66,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | - |
| Best paying company | Paulding County High School | - |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a middle school principal and a school superintendent in terms of educational background:
| Middle School Principal | School Superintendent | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | 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 middle school principals' and school superintendents' demographics:
| Middle School Principal | School Superintendent | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6% | Male, 71.5% Female, 28.5% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 4.4% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |