Become A Principal
Where do you want to work?
Working As A Principal
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Developing and Building Teams
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
Deal with People
Unpleasant/Angry People
Make Decisions
$120,000
Average Salary
What Does A Principal Do
How To Become A Principal
Most schools require elementary, middle, and high school principals to have a master’s degree in education administration or leadership. Most principals also have work experience as teachers.
EducationPrincipals typically need a master’s degree in education leadership or education administration. These master’s degree programs prepare future principals to manage staff, prepare and manage budgets, set goals, and work with parents and the community. To enter the master’s degree programs, candidates typically need a bachelor’s degree in education, school counseling, or a related field.
Work Experience in a Related OccupationPrincipals typically need several years of work experience as a teacher. For more information on how to become a teacher, see the profiles on kindergarten and elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, and high school teachers.
Licenses, Certifications, and RegistrationsMost states require public school principals to be licensed as school administrators. Licensure requirements vary by state, but most require a master’s degree. Some states have alternative programs for candidates who do not have a master’s degree in education administration or leadership. Most states also require candidates to pass an exam and a background check.
Principals in private schools are not required to have a state-issued license.
AdvancementAn assistant principal can advance to become a principal. Some principals advance to become superintendents, which may require completion of additional education. Others become instructional coordinators.
Important QualitiesCommunication skills. Principals must communicate effectively with students, teachers, and parents. For example, when dealing with student disciplinary or academic issues, they consult with and listen to parents and teachers to understand the problem.
Critical-thinking skills. Principals analyze student test results and testing procedures to determine if improvements are needed. They must assess the available options and choose the best means to help students achieve better results.
Decisionmaking skills. Because principals are responsible for students, staff members, and the overall operation of the school, they consider many factors when making decisions.
Interpersonal skills. Because principals work with teachers, parents, and superintendents, they must be able to develop positive working relationships with them.
Leadership skills. Principals set educational goals and establish policies and procedures for the school. They need to be able to motivate teachers and other staff to achieve set goals.
Problem-solving skills. Teachers, students, and other staff members report problems to the principal. Principals need to be able to analyze problems, and develop and implement appropriate solutions.
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Principal jobs
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Principal Career Paths
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Principal 5.0 years
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Managing Partner 5.0 years
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Building Principal 4.9 years
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High School Principal 4.1 years
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Middle School Principal 3.9 years
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Assistant Principal 3.8 years
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School Principal 3.6 years
-
Vice Principal 3.3 years
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Principal Associate 3.2 years
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High School Assistant Principal 3.1 years
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Elementary Assistant Principal 2.8 years
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Assistant Principal 15.4%
-
Teacher 14.2%
-
Vice President 11.2%
-
Director 6.6%
-
Project Manager 6.0%
-
Consultant 4.9%
-
Manager 4.3%
-
President 3.5%
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Associate 3.3%
-
Account Executive 3.2%
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Senior Consultant 3.1%
-
-
General Manager 2.9%
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Internship 2.9%
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Marketing Director 2.8%
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Senior Manager 2.7%
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Executive Director 2.6%
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Adjunct Professor 2.5%
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Instructor 2.5%
-
Program Manager 2.5%
-
Vice President 9.9%
-
Director 8.2%
-
Assistant Principal 8.1%
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Teacher 7.9%
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Consultant 7.5%
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Adjunct Professor 6.9%
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Project Manager 6.7%
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Executive Director 4.6%
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President 4.4%
-
Superintendent 3.8%
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Manager 3.7%
-
-
Substitute Teacher 3.5%
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Owner 3.4%
-
-
Managing Director 3.2%
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Instructor 3.2%
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Business Developer 2.9%
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Education Consultant 2.7%
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Program Manager 2.7%
Average Length of Employment
Top Careers Before Principal
Top Careers After Principal
Principal Demographics
Gender
-
Male
63.1% -
Female
34.1% -
Unknown
2.8%
Ethnicity
-
White
80.8% -
Hispanic or Latino
8.5% -
Asian
8.1% -
Unknown
1.9% -
Black or African American
0.7%
Languages Spoken
-
Spanish
39.7% -
French
18.1% -
German
6.9% -
Italian
5.2% -
Chinese
5.1% -
Mandarin
4.3% -
Portuguese
3.9% -
Russian
2.8% -
Japanese
2.7% -
Arabic
1.9% -
Korean
1.4% -
Carrier
1.3% -
Hebrew
1.2% -
Hindi
1.2% -
Cantonese
1.0% -
Persian
0.8% -
Dutch
0.7% -
Greek
0.7% -
Urdu
0.6% -
Armenian
0.5%
Principal
Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.
Principal Education
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University of Phoenix
9.0% -
New York University
6.7% -
Harvard University
6.2% -
Michigan State University
5.4% -
Cornell University
5.4% -
Boston University
5.0% -
University of Texas at Austin
4.9% -
Northwestern University
4.8% -
University of Southern California
4.7% -
University of Pennsylvania
4.7% -
Arizona State University
4.6% -
University of Chicago
4.5% -
George Washington University
4.5% -
Nova Southeastern University
4.5% -
Columbia University
4.3% -
Syracuse University
4.3% -
Temple University
4.2% -
Northeastern University
4.2% -
Iowa State University
4.1% -
University of Iowa
3.9% -
Business 23.2%
-
Educational Leadership 12.9%
-
Education 7.2%
-
Finance 6.9%
-
Law 6.4%
-
Marketing 5.3%
-
Management 4.7%
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Accounting 4.4%
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Communication 3.2%
-
Elementary Education 3.2%
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Computer Science 3.2%
-
Political Science 3.0%
-
English 2.6%
-
Psychology 2.4%
-
Economics 2.2%
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Journalism 2.0%
-
-
Architecture 1.9%
-
Graphic Design 1.8%
-
-
Masters
36.1% -
Bachelors
31.5% -
Other
16.0% -
Doctorate
9.4% -
Certificate
3.7% -
Associate
2.6% -
Diploma
0.6% -
License
0.2%
Schools
Majors
Degrees
Principal
Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.
Real Principal Salaries
Job Title
|
Company
|
Location
|
Start Date
|
Salary
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal | KPMG LLP | Santa Clara, CA | May 20, 2016 | $475,000 - $1,625,000 |
| Principal | Pricewaterhousecoopers | New York, NY | Jan 10, 2015 | $455,000 |
| Principal | Warburg Pincus LLC | New York, NY | Sep 16, 2015 | $425,000 |
| Principal | Indaba Capital Management, L.P. | San Francisco, CA | Sep 23, 2015 | $400,000 |
| Assurance Principal Partner | Pricewaterhousecoopers LLP | Florham Park, NJ | Jan 06, 2016 | $375,000 |
| Principal | QIC Us Investment Services Inc. | San Francisco, CA | Nov 17, 2016 | $324,127 |
| Principal, Healthcare Structured Finance | TPG Opportunities Partners, L.P. | San Francisco, CA | Aug 26, 2015 | $300,000 |
| Principal | TPG Opportunities Partners, L.P. | San Francisco, CA | Feb 08, 2016 | $300,000 |
| Principal | Nanodimension, Inc. | Woodside, CA | May 09, 2016 | $275,000 |
| Principal | Nanodimension | Redwood City, CA | Oct 26, 2015 | $275,000 |
| Principal | Greenhill & Co., LLC | New York, NY | Mar 02, 2015 | $250,000 - $280,000 |
| Assurance Principal Partner | Pricewaterhousecoopers LLP | Florham Park, NJ | Sep 22, 2016 | $250,000 |
| Principal | Claros Fund Management LLC | New York, NY | Mar 16, 2015 | $250,000 |
| Principal Advisor | Freehills Us | New York, NY | Jan 12, 2015 | $250,000 - $1,250,000 |
| Principal | Capgemini Financial Services USA Inc. | Simi Valley, CA | Jul 09, 2015 | $172,162 |
| Principal | ICF Incorporated, LLC | Fairfax, VA | Dec 13, 2016 | $170,331 |
| Principal Geologist | Conocophillips Company | Houston, TX | Aug 12, 2015 | $170,160 - $255,240 |
| Principal | Westernacher & Partner Consulting, Inc. | Wellesley, MA | Apr 18, 2016 | $170,000 |
| Principal | Promontory Financial Group, LLC | Washington, DC | Mar 11, 2015 | $170,000 |
| Principal | The Schmidt Family Foundation | Palo Alto, CA | Jul 21, 2016 | $170,000 |
| Principal Geologist | Statoil Gulf Services LLC | Houston, TX | Aug 12, 2015 | $170,000 |
| Principal | Nokia Solutions and Networks Us LLC | Sunnyvale, CA | Apr 09, 2016 | $170,000 |
| Industry Principal-US | Infosys Limited | Houston, TX | Mar 28, 2016 | $140,588 |
| Principal Resource Geologist | SRK Consulting (U.S.), Inc. | Lakewood, CO | Jun 30, 2015 | $140,005 |
| Principal-Enterprise Applications | Infosys Limited | Los Angeles, CA | Mar 31, 2015 | $140,000 |
| Spirits Maker, Principal | E. & J. Gallo Winery | Modesto, CA | Oct 20, 2015 | $140,000 - $150,000 |
| Principal Analytical Lead | Google Inc. | New York, NY | May 25, 2016 | $140,000 |
| Principal | G.H. Smart and Company, Incorporated | Chicago, IL | Apr 15, 2016 | $140,000 - $200,000 |
| Principal | Sun Mountain Capital LLC | Santa Fe, NM | Dec 18, 2015 | $140,000 |
| Principal | Promontory Financial Group, LLC | Washington, DC | Jan 10, 2016 | $140,000 - $225,000 |
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Top Skills for A Principal
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Top Principal Skills
- Financial Services
- Business Strategy
- Curriculum Development
- Managed large business, technology and organizational improvement projects for software, professional services, entertainment, and financial services clients.
- Line of business strategy development and execution.
- Assist with curriculum development, implementation and evaluation.
- Facilitated focus group and workshops that assisted in uncovering root cause issues to barriers of product development and services.
- Managed regulatory compliance, corporate maintenance, and employment law issues.
Top Principal Employers
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Principal Videos
Career Advice on becoming a Vice Principal by Amanda H (Full Version)
Career Advice on becoming a Vice Principal by Amanda H (Highlights)
A Principal provides Parenting Advice for parents of preschoolers from drkit.org