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The differences between vice principals and high school principals can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a vice principal and a high school principal. Additionally, a high school principal has an average salary of $96,329, which is higher than the $88,764 average annual salary of a vice principal.
The top three skills for a vice principal include curriculum development, vice-principal and classroom management. The most important skills for a high school principal are student achievement, curriculum development, and staff development.
| Vice Principal | High School Principal | |
| Yearly salary | $88,764 | $96,329 |
| Hourly rate | $42.67 | $46.31 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 67,974 | 61,948 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A vice-principal works as an assistant educational administrator whose primary responsibility is to assist the school's principal with daily school administrative tasks, such as certifying and hiring teachers and school staff. In addition to these tasks, a vice-principal conducts parent interviews and serves as mentors and counselors to students. The qualifications to become a vice principal include possessing strong leadership, decision-making, and organizational skills and obtaining a master's or doctoral degree in education.
A High School Principal oversees and supervises the daily operations of a high school. They are typically in charge of setting goals and objectives, establishing budgets and guidelines, creating schedules, spearheading academic programs, developing strategies to accomplish objectives, and conducting regular workforce assessments, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. It is also their responsibility to address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently. Moreover, a High School Principal implements policies and regulations to maintain a healthy and safe learning environment for everyone.
Vice principals and high school principals have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Vice Principal | High School Principal | |
| Average salary | $88,764 | $96,329 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $121,000 | Between $70,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | Paterson, NJ | East Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | Princeton Public Schools | Jo-Ann Stores |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a vice principal and a high school principal in terms of educational background:
| Vice Principal | High School Principal | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Educational Leadership | Educational Leadership |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between vice principals' and high school principals' demographics:
| Vice Principal | High School Principal | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.3% Female, 49.7% | Male, 64.1% Female, 35.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 4.4% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 4.4% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |