School principal earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level school principal earnings begin at:

$78.40 per hour

$163,080 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level school principal earnings begin at:

$75.11 per hour

$156,220 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level school principal earnings begin at:

$61.05 per hour

$126,980 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level school principal earnings begin at:

$48.78 per hour

$101,470 per year

10th percentile

Starting level school principal earnings begin at:

$38.73 per hour

$80,550 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

School principal salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Colorado $99,330
Pennsylvania $99,210
Utah $99,120
Nevada $99,100
Nebraska $98,860
Georgia $98,680
Illinois $98,600
Wisconsin $98,520
Vermont $98,500
Hawaii $98,380
Michigan $98,340
Wyoming $98,270
New Hampshire $97,680
Virginia $97,580
Ohio $97,320
North Dakota $96,960
Maine $96,320
South Carolina $94,380
Florida $94,120
Kansas $94,120
Missouri $93,810
Indiana $84,760
Texas $80,780
Idaho $80,370
New Mexico $79,550
Alabama $78,910
Arkansas $77,680
Arizona $77,680
Montana $77,600
Kentucky $77,190
Oklahoma $77,190
Tennessee $77,190
South Dakota $76,950
Mississippi $76,760
West Virginia $76,760
North Carolina $76,690
Louisiana $74,690
Guam $74,590
Virgin Islands, U.S. $74,590
Puerto Rico $48,430
New York $128,190
Connecticut $127,670
Washington $127,670
New Jersey $127,490
California $126,980
District of Columbia $125,430
Maryland $123,340
Delaware $121,260
Oregon $119,610
Massachusetts $119,250
Alaska $101,880
Minnesota $101,520
Iowa $100,270
Rhode Island $100,010

How do school principal salaries compare to similar careers?

School principals earn 20% more than similar careers in California. On average, they make less than physical education teachers but more than professors.

Career Median Salary
Physical education teacher salary $123K
School principal salary $127K
Distance learning coordinator salary $99K
High school teacher salary $96K
Teacher salary $87K
Professor salary $79K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)