Q: How hard is it to become a principal?

It is very hard to become a principal. You must complete a combination of educational requirements and on-the-job experience, which requires many years to complete in order to become a principal. Most principals begin their careers as teachers, so you will need to first complete the education and certification required to become a teacher.

Q: How many years does it take to become a principal?

It takes about six years to become a principal. Most principals secure their bachelor's degree, which takes approximately four years. From there, some may decide to continue their education, gaining their master's degree. However, some prospective principals may enter the education field as a teacher and continue gaining career traction that way.

Q: How much does a principal earn a year?

A principal earns an average of $130,000 a year. A principal just starting in the field may make about $80,000 per year, while those in the top 10% make about $212,000 per year. Depending on the school district and institution, some principals may see bonuses or incentives to increase their base salary.

Q: What degree does a principal need?

A principal needs a bachelor's degree, at minimum. Some principals may go for their master's degree, but this is not often a requirement to become a principal. Fewer principals secure the doctorate, as it is often unneeded or only needed for higher-level occupational responsibilities that many principals will not need to complete.

Q: Do principals make a lot of money?

Yes, principals make a lot of money. While most principals may start as teachers or other educational professionals, the entry-level salary is approximately $80,000 per year once the educator becomes a principal. The average nationwide salary for principals is approximately 130,000 per year.

Q: Can a principal make 100k?

Yes, you can make $100,000 per year as a principal. The chances of earning over $100k for a principal are actually pretty good because the highest-paid principal positions typically pay at least $213,000 per year. The average annual salary is $140,569 for principal jobs. For example, principals in New York whose salaries are in the 90th percentile earn an average salary of $235,000.

Question 1

How long does it take to become a Principal?

Accepted Answer

It takes 11 years of professional experience to become a principal. That is the time it takes to learn specific principal skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 14 to 16 years years to become a principal.

Question 2

Can I become a principal without becoming a teacher?

Accepted Answer

No, you cannot become a principal without becoming a teacher. One of the standard requirements for becoming a principal is a valid teaching license. While some states offer alternatives to teaching experience for administrative candidates, all states require teaching licenses.

Question 3

Can a school counselor become a principal?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a school counselor can become a principal provided that they meet the qualifications and training requirements for the position. A school counselor would need a Master's in Educational Administration to be a principal or vice principal. It's also helpful for a prospective principal to have classroom experience.

Question 4

How hard is it to become a principal?

Accepted Answer

It is very hard to become a principal. You must complete a combination of educational requirements and on-the-job experience, which requires many years to complete in order to become a principal. Most principals begin their careers as teachers, so you will need to first complete the education and certification required to become a teacher.

Question 5

How many years does it take to become a principal?

Accepted Answer

It takes about six years to become a principal. Most principals secure their bachelor's degree, which takes approximately four years. From there, some may decide to continue their education, gaining their master's degree. However, some prospective principals may enter the education field as a teacher and continue gaining career traction that way.

Question 6

How much does a principal earn a year?

Accepted Answer

A principal earns an average of $130,000 a year. A principal just starting in the field may make about $80,000 per year, while those in the top 10% make about $212,000 per year. Depending on the school district and institution, some principals may see bonuses or incentives to increase their base salary.

Question 7

What degree does a principal need?

Accepted Answer

A principal needs a bachelor's degree, at minimum. Some principals may go for their master's degree, but this is not often a requirement to become a principal. Fewer principals secure the doctorate, as it is often unneeded or only needed for higher-level occupational responsibilities that many principals will not need to complete.

Question 8

What is a good starting salary for a Principal?

Accepted Answer

A good starting salary for a principal is $92,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a principal in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for principals is $140,569, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for a principal can vary by state.

Question 9

Do principals make a lot of money?

Accepted Answer

Yes, principals make a lot of money. While most principals may start as teachers or other educational professionals, the entry-level salary is approximately $80,000 per year once the educator becomes a principal. The average nationwide salary for principals is approximately 130,000 per year.

Question 10

Can a principal make 100k?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can make $100,000 per year as a principal. The chances of earning over $100k for a principal are actually pretty good because the highest-paid principal positions typically pay at least $213,000 per year. The average annual salary is $140,569 for principal jobs. For example, principals in New York whose salaries are in the 90th percentile earn an average salary of $235,000.

Question 11

What are the qualifications of a principal?

Accepted Answer

The qualifications of a principal are advanced education, professional experience, and specific skill sets. Here are some details on the qualifications of a principal:

Education

You need a master's degree in education to be a principal. Master's degrees in educational administration and educational leadership are also acceptable.

Certain schools also seek principals that have an even higher degree in education administration, such as one with an education specialist (EdS) degree, a doctor of education degree (EdD), or a Ph.D. in education. Typically, principals must also have previous experience in classrooms and school administration to get the job.

Professional experience

Most principal positions require teaching experience. After you obtain your bachelor's in education, you need to get some professional experience as a teacher for at least four to five years.

This gives the proper exposure to student populations, their needs, challenges, and other issues they face. Some choose to do this in conjunction with their master's degree, while others get the teaching experience first and then pursue their master's degree in education or education administration.

Other options for professional experience include school administrative roles, though teaching experience should still be sought at some point. Vice principal positions are perfect prerequisite roles for a principal job.

Those who go right for their master's degrees and then doctoral degrees in education may not need to gain teaching experience for certain principal positions.

You might need additional licensing to become an administrator. This depends on each individual educational institution and the state in which it resides. Certifications may be obtained through testing designed to exhibit your understanding of budgeting, as well as local laws and educational regulations.

Skills

Principals utilize a wide variety of skills in their field. Here we will go over some of the most common and important skills that are qualifications for a principal:

Communication skills are perhaps one of the most important skills for a principal to possess. Since they are advising young students, they need to be able to communicate clearly and effectively. They need to be active listeners in order to help students overcome any number of challenges.

Principals also must communicate with teachers, administrators, school board officials, parents, and many other key figures in the world of education. They also need to be skilled in public speaking to deliver presentations in front of the entire school or at educational conferences or community meetings.

Communicating in a confident manner is also essential. A principal is a leadership and authoritative figure in the school environment. Students must trust and respect them. This also helps students to take their directions or advice seriously.

Leadership skills are essential to being a principal. Principals have the final say on most of a school's issues, including programs, funding, resources, budget, and other areas. These are critical components of a school running effectively. Every decision a principal makes may have a tremendous amount of influence on the school as a whole.

Teachers and students also will look to their principal for guidance and motivation.

Problem-solving skills come into play often in a principal's work. They need to take care of all the organizational aspects of running a school. Budget is also a key concern, and many times, issues and setbacks can arise in these areas.

Sometimes principals must also develop specific educational plans, in conjunction with teachers or other faculty members, for individual students or groups of students. These students will differ in terms of education, aptitude, preference, and in so many other ways.

They need to consider each student's learning ability, personal issues, and learning level to adequately come up with plans that will not only be good for the student but will also appeal to them. Problem-solving skills assist principals in coming up with effective solutions for unique challenges students face during their educational careers.

Emotional intelligence skills are also extremely important. Principals need to understand and empathize with each student's own unique difficulties and academic challenges. They must create comfortable environments where students are encouraged to express their true feelings and concerns.

Conflict management skills are also critical for principles. There can be conflicts between many different parties at their school. Such as conflicts between students, between teachers or other faculty members, and between faculty members and students.

Principals must be able to effectively and quickly resolve conflicts to keep their school as a healthy and productive educational environment.

Interpersonal skills are utilized by principals when working with students or other educational professionals. They need to be able to communicate effectively with teachers to make sure individual students' educational needs are met and also to make sure that each student is receiving the proper attention that is needed.

They also need these skills when working with other high-level education officials or high-ranking members of their communities.

Interpersonal skills also work to build strong connections with students, establishing trust and enabling them to give the best possible advice to each individual student.

Question 12

What percentage of Principals are female?

Accepted Answer

34.9% of principals are female in the United States. This is 1.4 percentage points higher than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female principals has increased by 2.8 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 33,205 female principals in the U.S. and 61,939 male principals in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 95,144 people with the specific job title of principal and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.

Frequently asked questions about principals

Questions about becoming a principal