Best cities for a principal
The best cities for principals are New York, NY, Boston, MA, and Oakland, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for principals vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for principals in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a principal or considering a move, this list of the best cities for principals to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for principals. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a principal. While the absolute best city for principals is New York, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for principals in 2024.
If you're looking for a principal job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for principals in 2026
1. New York, NY
Principal jobs in New YorkTotal principal jobs: 229 Average annual salary: $134,786 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location quotient: 4.47 2. Boston, MA
Principal jobs in BostonTotal principal jobs: 144 Average annual salary: $120,774 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location quotient: 3.98 3. Oakland, CA
Principal jobs in OaklandTotal principal jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $130,164 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $222,000 Location quotient: 4.96 4. San Francisco, CA
Principal jobs in San FranciscoTotal principal jobs: 164 Average annual salary: $130,587 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $223,000 Location quotient: 3.24 5. Cleveland, OH
Principal jobs in ClevelandTotal principal jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $101,032 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 2.74 6. Sacramento, CA
Principal jobs in SacramentoTotal principal jobs: 38 Average annual salary: $124,709 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $213,000 Location quotient: 3.60 7. Newark, NJ
Principal jobs in NewarkTotal principal jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $116,154 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location quotient: 3.39 8. Fresno, CA
Principal jobs in FresnoTotal principal jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $128,057 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $219,000 Location quotient: 3.18 9. Raleigh, NC
Principal jobs in RaleighTotal principal jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $99,691 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location quotient: 3.41 10. Long Beach, CA
Principal jobs in Long BeachTotal principal jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $121,251 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $207,000 Location quotient: 3.56
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Best cities for principals
- New York, NY
- Boston, MA
- Oakland, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Cleveland, OH
- Sacramento, CA
- Newark, NJ
- Fresno, CA
- Raleigh, NC
- Long Beach, CA
Detailed list of the best cities for a principal
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $134,786 | $82,000 | 8,537,673 | 229 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $120,774 | $71,000 | 673,184 | 144 |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | $130,164 | $76,000 | 420,005 | 24 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $130,587 | $76,000 | 870,887 | 164 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $101,032 | $62,000 | 385,809 | 22 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $124,709 | $72,000 | 495,234 | 38 |
| 7 | Newark, NJ | $116,154 | $71,000 | 281,764 | 20 |
| 8 | Fresno, CA | $128,057 | $74,000 | 522,053 | 9 |
| 9 | Raleigh, NC | $99,691 | $62,000 | 458,880 | 45 |
| 10 | Long Beach, CA | $121,251 | $70,000 | 470,130 | 11 |
| 11 | San Jose, CA | $130,923 | $76,000 | 1,025,350 | 79 |
| 12 | Chula Vista, CA | $114,402 | $67,000 | 267,172 | 6 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh, PA | $105,784 | $65,000 | 303,625 | 30 |
| 14 | Irvine, CA | $120,101 | $70,000 | 266,122 | 42 |
| 15 | Fremont, CA | $130,400 | $76,000 | 233,136 | 20 |
| 16 | Laredo, TX | $87,594 | $52,000 | 257,156 | 4 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $95,741 | $59,000 | 2,704,958 | 184 |
| 18 | El Paso, TX | $89,667 | $54,000 | 683,080 | 11 |
| 19 | San Antonio, TX | $87,970 | $53,000 | 1,492,510 | 54 |
| 20 | Washington, DC | $114,147 | $70,000 | 681,170 | 100 |
| 21 | Los Angeles, CA | $122,751 | $71,000 | 3,976,322 | 93 |
| 22 | Detroit, MI | $105,489 | $64,000 | 672,795 | 15 |
| 23 | Buffalo, NY | $128,171 | $78,000 | 256,902 | 8 |
| 24 | Houston, TX | $86,654 | $52,000 | 2,303,482 | 206 |
| 25 | Indianapolis, IN | $98,195 | $60,000 | 855,164 | 34 |
| 26 | Corpus Christi, TX | $87,278 | $52,000 | 325,733 | 4 |
| 27 | Jersey City, NJ | $116,238 | $71,000 | 264,152 | 29 |
| 28 | Durham, NC | $99,728 | $62,000 | 263,016 | 16 |
| 29 | Seattle, WA | $104,893 | $63,000 | 704,352 | 103 |
| 30 | Stockton, CA | $127,220 | $74,000 | 307,072 | 3 |
| 31 | Philadelphia, PA | $111,129 | $68,000 | 1,567,872 | 29 |
| 32 | Anaheim, CA | $121,066 | $70,000 | 351,043 | 5 |
| 33 | Cincinnati, OH | $94,974 | $58,000 | 298,800 | 18 |
| 34 | Columbus, OH | $98,198 | $60,000 | 860,090 | 31 |
| 35 | Brookhaven, NY | $135,352 | $82,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 36 | Islip, NY | $135,315 | $82,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 37 | Hempstead, NY | $135,057 | $82,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 38 | Oyster Bay, NY | $135,050 | $82,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 39 | Riverside, CA | $120,579 | $70,000 | 324,722 | 5 |
| 40 | Saint Paul, MN | $88,235 | $55,000 | 302,398 | 26 |
| 41 | Las Vegas, NV | $93,740 | $54,000 | 632,912 | 20 |
| 42 | Garland, TX | $80,044 | $49,000 | 234,943 | 3 |
| 43 | Atlanta, GA | $83,763 | $52,000 | 472,522 | 136 |
| 44 | Fort Wayne, IN | $101,179 | $62,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 45 | Nashville, TN | $79,712 | $49,000 | 660,388 | 28 |
| 46 | Toledo, OH | $98,550 | $60,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 47 | Gilbert, AZ | $85,706 | $50,000 | 237,133 | 3 |
| 48 | Scottsdale, AZ | $86,101 | $51,000 | 246,645 | 12 |
| 49 | Baltimore, MD | $117,043 | $72,000 | 614,664 | 21 |
| 50 | Chandler, AZ | $85,844 | $50,000 | 247,477 | 11 |
Highest paying cities for principals
| Rank | City | Avg. principal salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $134,786 |
| 2 | Ridgefield, CT | $134,397 |
| 3 | Mountain View, CA | $131,173 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $120,774 |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $116,238 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $114,147 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $111,129 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $104,893 |
| 9 | Arlington, VA | $104,841 |
| 10 | Durham, NC | $99,728 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $98,198 |
| 12 | Indianapolis, IN | $98,195 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $95,741 |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN | $88,089 |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $87,970 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $86,399 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $83,763 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $78,992 |
| 19 | Salt Lake City, UT | $76,599 |
| 20 | Miami, FL | $76,173 |
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Updated January 8, 2025