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Principal salary
Average principal salary
$111,719
Understanding Principal Salaries
The average principal salary in the United States is $111,719 annually, but this figure can fluctuate significantly based on various factors. Principals in states like California and New York often command higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for quality education. Additionally, principals with more years of experience typically earn more, reflecting their expertise and leadership skills.
Salary ranges also differ by district, with larger urban schools often offering competitive pay to attract top talent. For aspiring principals, understanding these dynamics is crucial for career planning. Various educational sectors, including charter schools and public districts, have distinct pay scales. Researching specific districts can provide insights into salary expectations and benefits.
Highest Paying Industries
In addition to traditional public schools, principals in specialized industries, such as charter and private schools, may also find lucrative opportunities. These roles can include additional responsibilities and expectations, thus influencing salary levels. As education continues to evolve, principals play a vital role in shaping future leaders, making their compensation a worthwhile investment.
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Where can a Principal earn more?
Principal salary estimates from across the web
Average principal salary by state
The highest-paying states for principals are New York, Connecticut, and California. The lowest average principal salary states are Colorado, Arkansas, and Kansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for principals
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $132,640 | $63.77 |
| 2 | Vermont | $118,967 | $57.20 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $119,787 | $57.59 |
| 4 | California | $122,066 | $58.69 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $115,662 | $55.61 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $132,479 | $63.69 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $106,051 | $50.99 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $109,922 | $52.85 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $113,835 | $54.73 |
| 10 | Maryland | $116,276 | $55.90 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $118,916 | $57.17 |
| 12 | Washington | $103,658 | $49.84 |
| 13 | Virginia | $103,223 | $49.63 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $96,376 | $46.33 |
| 15 | Ohio | $98,631 | $47.42 |
| 16 | Delaware | $109,816 | $52.80 |
| 17 | Michigan | $104,660 | $50.32 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $97,441 | $46.85 |
| 19 | Oregon | $94,899 | $45.62 |
| 20 | Indiana | $98,295 | $47.26 |
| 21 | Illinois | $95,002 | $45.67 |
| 22 | Nevada | $92,979 | $44.70 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $94,500 | $45.43 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $100,210 | $48.18 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $88,115 | $42.36 |
| 26 | Arizona | $85,992 | $41.34 |
| 27 | Maine | $92,607 | $44.52 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $89,256 | $42.91 |
| 29 | Utah | $77,187 | $37.11 |
| 30 | Idaho | $80,442 | $38.67 |
| 31 | Texas | $84,349 | $40.55 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $83,072 | $39.94 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $85,333 | $41.03 |
| 34 | Montana | $78,524 | $37.75 |
| 35 | Georgia | $83,780 | $40.28 |
| 36 | Alaska | $85,927 | $41.31 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $78,861 | $37.91 |
| 38 | Florida | $77,269 | $37.15 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $81,724 | $39.29 |
| 40 | Iowa | $78,881 | $37.92 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $74,148 | $35.65 |
| 42 | Missouri | $75,898 | $36.49 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $72,272 | $34.75 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $70,601 | $33.94 |
| 45 | Colorado | $71,853 | $34.54 |
| 46 | Alabama | $75,274 | $36.19 |
| 47 | Kansas | $69,799 | $33.56 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $74,619 | $35.87 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $69,032 | $33.19 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $68,553 | $32.96 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $51,515 | $24.77 |
Highest paying cities for principals
The highest-paying cities for principals are New York, NY, Ridgefield, CT, and Mountain View, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $134,786 | $64.80 |
| 2 | Ridgefield, CT | $134,397 | $64.61 |
| 3 | Mountain View, CA | $131,173 | $63.06 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $120,774 | $58.06 |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $116,238 | $55.88 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $114,147 | $54.88 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $111,129 | $53.43 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $104,893 | $50.43 |
| 9 | Arlington, VA | $104,841 | $50.40 |
| 10 | Durham, NC | $99,728 | $47.95 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $98,198 | $47.21 |
| 12 | Indianapolis, IN | $98,195 | $47.21 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $95,741 | $46.03 |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN | $88,089 | $42.35 |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $87,970 | $42.29 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $86,399 | $41.54 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $83,763 | $40.27 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $78,992 | $37.98 |
| 19 | Salt Lake City, UT | $76,599 | $36.83 |
| 20 | Miami, FL | $76,173 | $36.62 |
Principals are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Principal salary details
A principal's salary ranges from $69,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $179,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a principal's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $179,000 | $14,917 | $86 |
| 75th Percentile | $143,000 | $11,917 | $69 |
| Average | $111,719 | $9,310 | $54 |
| 25th Percentile | $86,000 | $7,167 | $41 |
| 10th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
Highest paying principal jobs
The highest paying types of principals are executive vice president, executive consultant, and managing director.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Director | $68,563 | $5,714 | $32.96 | 37,761 |
| School Business Manager | $62,224 | $5,185 | $29.92 | 87,493 |
| Managing Director | $129,690 | $10,808 | $62.35 | 81,022 |
| Educational Administrator | $67,252 | $5,604 | $32.33 | 52,917 |
| After School Program Coordinator | $34,475 | $2,873 | $16.57 | 86,881 |
| Superintendent | $82,458 | $6,871 | $39.64 | 22,580 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for principals, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Albert Boerema Ph.D.
Professor, Calvin University
Top companies hiring principals now:
Which companies pay principals the most?
Principal salaries at KKR & Co. L.P. and Cornerstone Research are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average principal salary at companies like The Carlyle Group and Oliver Wyman are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KKR & Co. L.P. | $237,657 | $114.26 |
| 2 | Cornerstone Research | $226,644 | $108.96 |
| 3 | The Carlyle Group | $225,349 | $108.34 |
| 4 | Oliver Wyman | $222,181 | $106.82 |
| 5 | McKinsey & Company Inc | $221,076 | $106.29 |
| 6 | Bain & Company | $211,198 | $101.54 |
| 7 | Boston Consulting Group | $209,906 | $100.92 |
| 8 | New Foundations Charter School | $207,392 | $99.71 |
| 9 | A.T. Kearney | $204,423 | $98.28 |
| 10 | Sagent Advisors | $201,356 | $96.81 |
| 11 | ZS | $197,276 | $94.84 |
| 12 | Oak Hill Advisors | $196,888 | $94.66 |
| 13 | Point B | $190,194 | $91.44 |
| 14 | Coatue Management | $185,333 | $89.10 |
| 15 | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | $185,311 | $89.09 |
| 16 | ACON Investments | $181,441 | $87.23 |
| 17 | Playground Global | $181,399 | $87.21 |
| 18 | Ampere | $178,746 | $85.94 |
| 19 | Citi | $178,277 | $85.71 |
| 20 | Centerbridge Partners | $178,210 | $85.68 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Principal salary by industry
The average principal salary varies across industries:
- The average principal salary in the professional industry is $130,964, the highest of any industry.
- The average principal salary in the finance industry is $122,810.
- Principals in the education industry earn an average salary of $86,542, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for principals
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $130,964 | $62.96 |
| 2 | Technology | $122,810 | $59.04 |
| 3 | Finance | $113,526 | $54.58 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $105,356 | $50.65 |
| 5 | Education | $86,542 | $41.61 |
High paying principal jobs
Principal salary trends
The average principal salary has risen by $12,500 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average principal earned $99,219 annually, but today, they earn $111,719 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for principals over the last decade.
Compare principal salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average principal salary over time
Compare principal salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Principal salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $112,000 | $53.71 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $109,000 | $52.57 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $108,000 | $51.98 | +1.0% |
| 2022 | $107,000 | $51.48 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | $105,000 | $50.45 | +2.3% |
Recently added principal salaries
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