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School principal vs teacher

The differences between school principals and teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a school principal has an average salary of $97,138, which is higher than the $47,989 average annual salary of a teacher.

The top three skills for a school principal include professional development, curriculum development and student achievement. The most important skills for a teacher are ESL, handle scheduling, and kids.

School principal vs teacher overview

School PrincipalTeacher
Yearly salary$97,138$47,989
Hourly rate$46.70$23.07
Growth rate5%4%
Number of jobs60,09371,918
Job satisfaction54.14
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4742
Years of experience4-

What does a school principal do?

A School Principal supervises and directs education and teaching programs within a school. They develop and implement policies, programs, curriculum activities, budgets, and more.

What does a teacher do?

Being a teacher is one of the most passionate professions, among others. Teachers educate, motivate, and guide every generation of learners to prepare them for the real world. Every teacher is unique and has their own teaching styles and methods depending on the subject they teach and the age of their students. Oftentimes they also function as a parent, counselor, coach, friend, and even a lawmaker. There is essentially no limit to the roles a teacher portrays.

School principal vs teacher salary

School principals and teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

School PrincipalTeacher
Average salary$97,138$47,989
Salary rangeBetween $71,000 And $131,000Between $32,000 And $70,000
Highest paying CityNewark, NJBaltimore, MD
Highest paying stateNew JerseyMaryland
Best paying companyLexington School and Center for the DeafKing Low Heywood Thomas
Best paying industryNon ProfitsEducation

Differences between school principal and teacher education

There are a few differences between a school principal and a teacher in terms of educational background:

School PrincipalTeacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorEducational LeadershipElementary Education
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

School principal vs teacher demographics

Here are the differences between school principals' and teachers' demographics:

School PrincipalTeacher
Average age4742
Gender ratioMale, 44.6% Female, 55.4%Male, 25.7% Female, 74.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 4.4% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 68.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage16%9%

Differences between school principal and teacher duties and responsibilities

School principal example responsibilities.

  • Lead school in partnership with local high school to promote higher math, science and technology achievement.
  • Create a PBIS system for teachers on how to manage behavior on a daily basis and reward positive outcomes.
  • Train volunteers to reach kids for Christ.
  • Experience with the Scott Foresman mathematics series for second grade.
  • Interview and hire summer school teaching staff in grades Pre-K through 5thgrade.
  • Design and implement the district's transition to``all-day kindergarten".
  • Show more

Teacher example responsibilities.

  • Work closely with co-teacher to manage and co-teach curriculum to a large group.
  • Target at risk and high achieving students using levele readers and DRA strategies.
  • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
  • Develop social studies and geography curriculum.
  • Provide kindergarten readiness in approaching phonemic awareness, phonics, and introductory math skills.
  • Attend and participate in ESL professional development activities, conferences/workshops, curriculum/program planning, & special events and activities.
  • Show more

School principal vs teacher skills

Common school principal skills
  • Professional Development, 12%
  • Curriculum Development, 8%
  • Student Achievement, 6%
  • Professional Growth, 5%
  • Student Learning, 5%
  • School Administration, 4%
Common teacher skills
  • ESL, 17%
  • Handle Scheduling, 15%
  • Kids, 12%
  • Classroom Management, 7%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Curriculum Development, 4%

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