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Best states for a secondary school principal
Quoted expert
Nathan Boles
- Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming a secondary school principal and really want to work at Atlanta International School? Turns out, your chances to become a secondary school principal are better in some states than others.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for secondary school principal jobs.
New Jersey is the best state for jobs for secondary school principals, and Alabama is the worst. The most common pay in New Jersey is $109,233, while the median pay in Alabama is $54,003.We found that New Jersey is the best state for secondary school principal jobs, whereas Alabama is the worst.
10 best states for secondary school principals in 2025
1. New Jersey
Total secondary school principal jobs: 1,404 Average annual salary: $109,233 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location Quotient: 2.03
2. Connecticut
Total secondary school principal jobs: 485 Average annual salary: $107,773 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location Quotient: 1.68
3. Delaware
Total secondary school principal jobs: 104 Average annual salary: $108,103 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
4. District of Columbia
Total secondary school principal jobs: 272 Average annual salary: $105,982 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location Quotient: 1.86
5. New Hampshire
Total secondary school principal jobs: 272 Average annual salary: $96,095 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 1.79
6. Maryland
Total secondary school principal jobs: 675 Average annual salary: $106,687 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
7. Illinois
Total secondary school principal jobs: 1,791 Average annual salary: $95,228 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 1.72
8. Pennsylvania
Total secondary school principal jobs: 1,379 Average annual salary: $94,698 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
9. New York
Total secondary school principal jobs: 1,521 Average annual salary: $95,831 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
10. Michigan
Total secondary school principal jobs: 579 Average annual salary: $94,100 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
Secondary school principal jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a secondary school principal
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a secondary school principal
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $109,233 | $69,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,404 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $107,773 | $68,000 | 3,588,184 | 485 |
| 3 | Delaware | $108,103 | $67,000 | 961,939 | 104 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $105,982 | $65,000 | 693,972 | 272 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $96,095 | $62,000 | 1,342,795 | 272 |
| 6 | Maryland | $106,687 | $66,000 | 6,052,177 | 675 |
| 7 | Illinois | $95,228 | $60,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,791 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $94,698 | $59,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,379 |
| 9 | New York | $95,831 | $60,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,521 |
| 10 | Michigan | $94,100 | $60,000 | 9,962,311 | 579 |
| 11 | Vermont | $102,522 | $67,000 | 623,657 | 36 |
| 12 | Oregon | $85,486 | $56,000 | 4,142,776 | 737 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $95,697 | $58,000 | 1,815,857 | 75 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $105,161 | $68,000 | 6,859,819 | 287 |
| 15 | Washington | $101,612 | $67,000 | 7,405,743 | 284 |
| 16 | California | $105,686 | $68,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,011 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $82,358 | $54,000 | 5,576,606 | 824 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $91,416 | $59,000 | 869,666 | 40 |
| 19 | Virginia | $82,893 | $50,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,215 |
| 20 | Montana | $78,709 | $52,000 | 1,050,493 | 205 |
| 21 | Indiana | $84,732 | $52,000 | 6,666,818 | 395 |
| 22 | Idaho | $78,635 | $50,000 | 1,716,943 | 239 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $81,334 | $52,000 | 5,795,483 | 404 |
| 24 | Nevada | $78,578 | $50,000 | 2,998,039 | 246 |
| 25 | Colorado | $80,731 | $50,000 | 5,607,154 | 733 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $82,036 | $53,000 | 1,059,639 | 83 |
| 27 | Alaska | $84,389 | $65,000 | 739,795 | 66 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $84,755 | $57,000 | 755,393 | 41 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $74,509 | $43,000 | 10,273,419 | 958 |
| 30 | Maine | $78,756 | $52,000 | 1,335,907 | 82 |
| 31 | Ohio | $73,962 | $45,000 | 11,658,609 | 802 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $71,613 | $43,000 | 2,088,070 | 224 |
| 33 | Arizona | $69,132 | $43,000 | 7,016,270 | 818 |
| 34 | Georgia | $75,354 | $43,000 | 10,429,379 | 559 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $72,191 | $42,000 | 6,715,984 | 280 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $65,329 | $42,000 | 579,315 | 64 |
| 37 | Missouri | $65,577 | $39,000 | 6,113,532 | 522 |
| 38 | Utah | $74,802 | $48,000 | 3,101,833 | 73 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $68,127 | $39,000 | 4,684,333 | 163 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $65,211 | $39,000 | 4,454,189 | 213 |
| 41 | Texas | $63,399 | $37,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,762 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $63,498 | $39,000 | 1,920,076 | 207 |
| 43 | Kansas | $63,259 | $38,000 | 2,913,123 | 276 |
| 44 | Iowa | $67,572 | $42,000 | 3,145,711 | 179 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $61,621 | $36,000 | 3,004,279 | 206 |
| 46 | Florida | $59,141 | $33,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,329 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $58,685 | $33,000 | 5,024,369 | 279 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $58,105 | $48,000 | 1,427,538 | 30 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $59,867 | $34,000 | 2,984,100 | 88 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $54,268 | $32,000 | 3,930,864 | 169 |
| 51 | Alabama | $54,003 | $31,000 | 4,874,747 | 192 |
Highest paying states for secondary school principals
| Rank | State | Avg. Secondary School Principal Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $109,233 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $107,773 |
| 3 | Delaware | $108,103 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $105,982 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $96,095 |
| 6 | Maryland | $106,687 |
| 7 | Illinois | $95,228 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $94,698 |
| 9 | New York | $95,831 |
| 10 | Michigan | $94,100 |
| 11 | Vermont | $102,522 |
| 12 | Oregon | $85,486 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $95,697 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $105,161 |
| 15 | Washington | $101,612 |
| 16 | California | $105,686 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $82,358 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $91,416 |
| 19 | Virginia | $82,893 |
| 20 | Montana | $78,709 |
| 21 | Indiana | $84,732 |
| 22 | Idaho | $78,635 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $81,334 |
| 24 | Nevada | $78,578 |
| 25 | Colorado | $80,731 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $82,036 |
| 27 | Alaska | $84,389 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $84,755 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $74,509 |
| 30 | Maine | $78,756 |
| 31 | Ohio | $73,962 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $71,613 |
| 33 | Arizona | $69,132 |
| 34 | Georgia | $75,354 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $72,191 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $65,329 |
| 37 | Missouri | $65,577 |
| 38 | Utah | $74,802 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $68,127 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $65,211 |
| 41 | Texas | $63,399 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $63,498 |
| 43 | Kansas | $63,259 |
| 44 | Iowa | $67,572 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $61,621 |
| 46 | Florida | $59,141 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $58,685 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $58,105 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $59,867 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $54,268 |
| 51 | Alabama | $54,003 |
Expert opinions on the best states for secondary school principals
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for secondary school principals to find work opportunities?
Nathan Boles
Assistant Professor of INS (Intervention Specialist) Program, Central State University
Graduates looking for their first teaching opportunity in the field of teaching will find many available in the majority of states. COVID has caused many educators to take early retirement and has caused the teacher to student ratio to decrease, leaving school districts desperately looking for new teachers. Many school districts are hiring students for January 2021, providing them with the opportunity to get an alternate license for teaching while still taking their student teaching and passing their required licensure tests. It is a crucial time in our country; this is an opportunity for educator-practitioners to get their foot in the door early. At current, I have personally seen four student teachers get hired in one school district in two weeks. The need is great, and providing free and appropriate education for all students is vital!
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Updated January 8, 2025