What is the salary and career path for a school principal?
School principals fall under Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (SOC 11-9032), the closest BLS category. Its OEWS May 2025 median is $105,870 a year, from $76,280 at the 10th percentile up to $167,770 at the 90th. BLS projects the group down about 1.5% over 2024–2034, with roughly 20,800 openings a year from turnover. The path runs through teaching experience, a master's degree and a state school-administrator license.
- School principals earn a national median $105,870/yr (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-9032 Education Administrators, K–Secondary); the top 10% clear $167,770.
- The path requires teaching experience, a master's or Ed.S. in educational leadership, and a state school-administrator license.
- The outlook is flat — BLS projects the group down about 1.5% through 2034 — but roughly 20,800 openings a year come from retirements and turnover.
- Pay climbs from around the $105,870 median as an assistant principal to $167,770 for large-school leaders moving toward district administration.
Career Path
How do you become a school principal?
Teacher moving into leadership
Experienced teachers taking on lead-teacher or coordinator duties sit near the $76,280 10th percentile of administrators.
Assistant principal
Assistant and newer principals earn around the $105,870 administrator median.
School Principal
Established building principals reach the $134,630 75th percentile.
Senior / large-school principal
Principals of large schools and those advancing toward district leadership reach the $167,770 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays school principals the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-9032. National median: $105,870. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does school principal pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles school principals most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: school principals rank 1 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected −1.5% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly school principals clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-9032 (school principals) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do school principals need?
Issued by each state's department of education; required to serve as a public-school principal. See all state licences →
The standard graduate credential in school administration underlying licensure.
Most states require classroom teaching experience before an administrator credential.
Licensure exams many states require to certify school leaders.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do school principals use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 11-9032
Salary Levers
How do school principals earn above the $105,870 BLS median?
Move from assistant principal to principal
Taking full building leadership moves pay from the $105,870 median toward the $134,630 upper band.
Lead a larger or higher-need school
Bigger enrollment and added responsibility push pay toward the $167,770 top decile.
Work in a high-paying state or district
Cost-of-living and district pay scales move earnings across the wide $76,280–$167,770 administrator spread.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a school principal worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-9032. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
School Principal Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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