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The differences between middle school principals and 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 superintendent. Additionally, a middle school principal has an average salary of $92,607, which is higher than the $82,458 average annual salary of a superintendent.
The top three skills for a middle school principal include professional growth, instructional program and student achievement. The most important skills for a superintendent are OSHA, quality standards, and construction management.
| Middle School Principal | Superintendent | |
| Yearly salary | $92,607 | $82,458 |
| Hourly rate | $44.52 | $39.64 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 59,247 | 22,580 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| 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.
Superintendents oversee the administration of schools in a specific school district. They manage the educational programs of each school and create strategic decisions to ensure that the students are learning important subjects. They also supervise school administrators or principals and are responsible for hiring and guiding them. Superintendents should be familiar with their constituents and must always be ready to listen to their needs. It is important that superintendents are good decision-makers and communicators. They are expected to lead their respective districts in achieving their vision. Superintendents drive the team towards their goals and create strategic steps to ensure success.
Middle school principals and superintendents have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Middle School Principal | Superintendent | |
| Average salary | $92,607 | $82,458 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $137,000 | Between $57,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Paulding County High School | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Education | Construction |
There are a few differences between a middle school principal and a superintendent in terms of educational background:
| Middle School Principal | Superintendent | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Most common major | Educational Leadership | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between middle school principals' and superintendents' demographics:
| Middle School Principal | Superintendent | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6% | Male, 93.3% Female, 6.7% |
| 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, 12.0% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.6% Asian, 4.2% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |