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Secondary school principal salary
Average secondary school principal salary
$92,688
Average Secondary School Principal Salary
The average salary for a secondary school principal in the United States is $92,688 per year. This figure can vary based on factors such as location, years of experience, and the size of the school district. For instance, principals in larger districts or urban areas often earn higher salaries due to increased responsibilities and cost of living adjustments.
Salary by State
States such as California, New York, and Texas typically offer higher salaries for secondary school principals. Understanding these regional differences is crucial for job seekers exploring opportunities in educational leadership. For example, in California, the average salary can exceed $100,000, reflecting the demand for skilled leaders in competitive educational environments.
Highest Paying Cities
Cities like San Francisco, New York City, and Chicago rank among the highest paying for this role, with salaries often surpassing the national average. If you're aiming for a principal position, consider these metropolitan areas for greater earning potential.
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Where can a Secondary School Principal earn more?
Average secondary school principal salary by state
The highest-paying states for secondary school principals are New Jersey, Delaware, and Connecticut. The lowest average secondary school principal salary states are Mississippi, Florida, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for secondary school principals
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $109,233 | $52.52 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $107,773 | $51.81 |
| 3 | Delaware | $108,103 | $51.97 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $105,982 | $50.95 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $96,095 | $46.20 |
| 6 | Maryland | $106,687 | $51.29 |
| 7 | Illinois | $95,228 | $45.78 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $94,698 | $45.53 |
| 9 | New York | $95,831 | $46.07 |
| 10 | Michigan | $94,100 | $45.24 |
| 11 | Vermont | $102,522 | $49.29 |
| 12 | Oregon | $85,486 | $41.10 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $95,697 | $46.01 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $105,161 | $50.56 |
| 15 | Washington | $101,612 | $48.85 |
| 16 | California | $105,686 | $50.81 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $82,358 | $39.60 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $91,416 | $43.95 |
| 19 | Virginia | $82,893 | $39.85 |
| 20 | Montana | $78,709 | $37.84 |
| 21 | Indiana | $84,732 | $40.74 |
| 22 | Idaho | $78,635 | $37.81 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $81,334 | $39.10 |
| 24 | Nevada | $78,578 | $37.78 |
| 25 | Colorado | $80,731 | $38.81 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $82,036 | $39.44 |
| 27 | Alaska | $84,389 | $40.57 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $84,755 | $40.75 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $74,509 | $35.82 |
| 30 | Maine | $78,756 | $37.86 |
| 31 | Ohio | $73,962 | $35.56 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $71,613 | $34.43 |
| 33 | Arizona | $69,132 | $33.24 |
| 34 | Georgia | $75,354 | $36.23 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $72,191 | $34.71 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $65,329 | $31.41 |
| 37 | Missouri | $65,577 | $31.53 |
| 38 | Utah | $74,802 | $35.96 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $68,127 | $32.75 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $65,211 | $31.35 |
| 41 | Texas | $63,399 | $30.48 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $63,498 | $30.53 |
| 43 | Kansas | $63,259 | $30.41 |
| 44 | Iowa | $67,572 | $32.49 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $61,621 | $29.63 |
| 46 | Florida | $59,141 | $28.43 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $58,685 | $28.21 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $58,105 | $27.94 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $59,867 | $28.78 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $54,268 | $26.09 |
| 51 | Alabama | $54,003 | $25.96 |
Highest paying cities for secondary school principals
The highest-paying cities for secondary school principals are Menlo Park, CA, Newark, NJ, and Baltimore, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Menlo Park, CA | $118,593 | $57.02 |
| 2 | Newark, NJ | $109,420 | $52.61 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $107,340 | $51.61 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $105,255 | $50.60 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $94,336 | $45.35 |
| 6 | Rochester, NY | $93,933 | $45.16 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $75,808 | $36.45 |
| 8 | Albuquerque, NM | $71,198 | $34.23 |
| 9 | Irving, TX | $60,389 | $29.03 |
| 10 | Birmingham, AL | $54,361 | $26.14 |
Secondary school principal salary details
A secondary school principal's salary ranges from $63,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $134,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a secondary school principal's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $134,000 | $11,167 | $64 |
| 75th Percentile | $112,000 | $9,333 | $54 |
| Average | $92,688 | $7,724 | $45 |
| 25th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| 10th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
Highest paying secondary school principal jobs
The highest paying types of secondary school principals are principal associate, principal, and school principal.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superintendent | $82,458 | $6,871 | $39.64 | 22,580 |
| Principal Investigator | $84,635 | $7,053 | $40.69 | 44,475 |
| Educational Administrator | $67,252 | $5,604 | $32.33 | 52,917 |
| School Business Manager | $62,224 | $5,185 | $29.92 | 87,493 |
| School Superintendent | $93,341 | $7,778 | $44.88 | 30,220 |
| School Director | $68,563 | $5,714 | $32.96 | 37,761 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for secondary school principals, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Albert Boerema Ph.D.
Professor, Calvin University
Top companies hiring secondary school principals now:
Which companies pay secondary school principals the most?
Secondary school principal salaries at Jefferson County Public School and Irving Isd are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average secondary school principal salary at companies like Wicomico County Public Schools and Atlanta International School are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson County Public School | $101,828 | $48.96 |
| 2 | Irving Isd | $95,153 | $45.75 |
| 3 | Wicomico County Public Schools | $93,596 | $45.00 |
| 4 | Atlanta International School | $92,129 | $44.29 |
| 5 | Ann Arbor Christian School | $85,363 | $41.04 |
| 6 | Americorps | $77,826 | $37.42 |
| 7 | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | $73,320 | $35.25 |
| 8 | Newark Unified School District | $65,491 | $31.49 |
| 9 | Albuquerque Academy | $56,831 | $27.32 |
| 10 | Wayne RESA | $54,937 | $26.41 |
| 11 | Rochester City School District | $53,830 | $25.88 |
| 12 | Harford County Public Schools | $27,082 | $13.02 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Secondary school principal salary trends
The average secondary school principal salary has risen by $10,370 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average secondary school principal earned $82,318 annually, but today, they earn $92,688 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for secondary school principals over the last decade.
Compare secondary school principal salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average secondary school principal salary over time
Compare secondary school principal salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Secondary school principal salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $92,700 | $44.56 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $90,700 | $43.62 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $89,700 | $43.12 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | $88,800 | $42.71 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $87,100 | $41.86 | +2.3% |
Recently added secondary school principal salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Leadership Charter High School | Secondary School Principal | New York, NY | 06/25/2025 | $130,000 |
| Region 9 ESC | Secondary Principal | Wichita Falls, TX | 06/12/2025 | $52,175 |
| Utica City School District | Principal-Secondary Middle School | Utica, NY | 05/25/2025 | $134,115 |
| Lincoln County R-III School District | Secondary Principal | Troy, MO | 05/25/2025 | $109,441 |
| Estes Park School District R-3 | Secretary To The Secondary School Principal | Boone, CO | 05/16/2025 | $43,660 |
| Guilford County Schools | Tchr-Lead EC School Support Secondary | Boone, NC | 05/09/2025 | $57,900 |
| Edgewood ISD | ACE Principal-Secondary | Nome, TX | 05/07/2025 | $85,514 |
| Edgewood ISD (Tx | ACE Principal-Secondary | San Antonio, TX | 05/05/2025 | $85,514 |
| Juneau School District | Summer School Secondary Para | Nome, AK | 05/04/2025 | $45,267 |
| Riverdale Country School | Upper School History Leave Replacement | New York, NY | 04/30/2025 | $37,273 |
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