Best cities for a school principal
The best cities for school principals are Cleveland, OH, Newark, NJ, and Indianapolis, IN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for school principals vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for school principals in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a school principal or considering a move, this list of the best cities for school principals to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for school principals. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a school principal. While the absolute best city for school principals is Cleveland, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for school principals in 2024.
If you're looking for a school principal job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for school principals in 2026
1. Cleveland, OH
Total school principal jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $87,025 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 7.19 2. Newark, NJ
Total school principal jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $106,629 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 19.62 3. Indianapolis, IN
Total school principal jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $91,153 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 6.52 4. Philadelphia, PA
Total school principal jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $94,212 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location quotient: 1.18 5. El Paso, TX
Total school principal jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $90,864 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 5.01 6. Laredo, TX
Total school principal jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $86,857 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location quotient: 38.54 7. Detroit, MI
Total school principal jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $87,659 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 1.35 8. Fort Worth, TX
Total school principal jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $84,666 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 10.36 9. Fort Wayne, IN
Total school principal jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $92,893 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Pittsburgh, PA
Total school principal jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $91,684 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for school principals
- Cleveland, OH
- Newark, NJ
- Indianapolis, IN
- Philadelphia, PA
- El Paso, TX
- Laredo, TX
- Detroit, MI
- Fort Worth, TX
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Pittsburgh, PA
- (4 school principal jobs)
- (8 school principal jobs)
- (9 school principal jobs)
- (2 school principal jobs)
- (1 school principal jobs)
- (2 school principal jobs)
- (1 school principal jobs)
- (6 school principal jobs)
- (0 school principal jobs)
- (0 school principal jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a school principal
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland, OH | $87,025 | $63,000 | 385,809 | 4 |
| 2 | Newark, NJ | $106,629 | $76,000 | 281,764 | 8 |
| 3 | Indianapolis, IN | $91,153 | $66,000 | 855,164 | 9 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $94,212 | $68,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $90,864 | $63,000 | 683,080 | 1 |
| 6 | Laredo, TX | $86,857 | $61,000 | 257,156 | 2 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $87,659 | $63,000 | 672,795 | 1 |
| 8 | Fort Worth, TX | $84,666 | $60,000 | 854,113 | 6 |
| 9 | Fort Wayne, IN | $92,893 | $67,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | $91,684 | $66,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 11 | Milwaukee, WI | $82,852 | $60,000 | 595,047 | 1 |
| 12 | San Antonio, TX | $88,326 | $62,000 | 1,492,510 | 1 |
| 13 | Toledo, OH | $86,385 | $62,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 14 | Jersey City, NJ | $106,668 | $77,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $85,878 | $62,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 16 | Cincinnati, OH | $84,449 | $61,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $88,124 | $61,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 18 | Seattle, WA | $97,642 | $69,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 19 | Houston, TX | $87,408 | $61,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 20 | Stockton, CA | $100,312 | $69,000 | 307,072 | 3 |
| 21 | Bakersfield, CA | $100,407 | $69,000 | 376,380 | 2 |
| 22 | Brookhaven, NY | $101,295 | $73,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 23 | Sacramento, CA | $98,856 | $68,000 | 495,234 | 7 |
| 24 | Portland, OR | $94,684 | $66,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 25 | Islip, NY | $101,264 | $73,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 26 | Madison, WI | $82,450 | $60,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 27 | Oyster Bay, NY | $101,166 | $73,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 28 | Hempstead, NY | $101,159 | $73,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 29 | Dallas, TX | $84,704 | $60,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 30 | Corpus Christi, TX | $86,682 | $61,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 31 | Arlington, TX | $84,700 | $60,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 32 | New York, NY | $101,057 | $72,000 | 8,537,673 | 10 |
| 33 | Garland, TX | $84,692 | $60,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 34 | Buffalo, NY | $98,803 | $71,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 35 | Irving, TX | $84,662 | $60,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 36 | Plano, TX | $84,659 | $60,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 37 | Baltimore, MD | $95,536 | $69,000 | 614,664 | 3 |
| 38 | Atlanta, GA | $86,388 | $62,000 | 472,522 | 2 |
| 39 | San Jose, CA | $103,987 | $71,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 40 | San Francisco, CA | $103,865 | $71,000 | 870,887 | 2 |
| 41 | Lubbock, TX | $84,346 | $59,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 42 | Fremont, CA | $103,520 | $71,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 43 | Oakland, CA | $103,373 | $71,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 44 | Los Angeles, CA | $98,517 | $69,000 | 3,976,322 | 3 |
| 45 | Saint Paul, MN | $86,625 | $63,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 46 | Fresno, CA | $100,572 | $69,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 47 | Anchorage, AK | $90,525 | $70,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 48 | Minneapolis, MN | $86,607 | $63,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 49 | Long Beach, CA | $98,087 | $68,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 50 | Boston, MA | $85,184 | $61,000 | 673,184 | 5 |
Highest paying cities for school principals
| Rank | City | Avg. school principal salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark, NJ | $106,629 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $103,865 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $101,057 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $95,536 |
| 5 | Hillsboro, OR | $94,945 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $94,212 |
| 7 | Indianapolis, IN | $91,153 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $87,659 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $87,025 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $86,388 |
| 11 | Boston, MA | $85,184 |
| 12 | Dallas, TX | $84,704 |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $82,813 |
| 14 | Springfield, MO | $75,845 |
| 15 | Albuquerque, NM | $75,807 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $74,548 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $74,209 |
| 18 | Baton Rouge, LA | $71,209 |
| 19 | Jacksonville, FL | $70,048 |
| 20 | Denver, CO | $68,366 |
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Updated January 8, 2025