The average salary for a principal in the United States is around $91,742 per year.
Avg Salary
Principals earn an average yearly salary of $91,742.
Wages typically start from $60,023 and go up to $140,225.
47% above national average Updated in 2019
Principal earnings by seniority
Top-level principal earnings begin at:
$67.42 per hour
$140,225 per year
Senior-level principal earnings begin at:
$55.14 per hour
$114,695 per year
Mid-level principal earnings begin at:
$44.11 per hour
$91,742 per year
Junior-level principal earnings begin at:
$35.28 per hour
$73,383 per year
Starting level principal earnings begin at:
$28.86 per hour
$60,023 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Principal salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| North Dakota | $99,680 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,099 |
| Wisconsin | $97,970 |
| Iowa | $97,874 |
| Wyoming | $96,440 |
| Hawaii | $95,360 |
| Illinois | $94,347 |
| Georgia | $93,770 |
| Michigan | $93,530 |
| Utah | $93,310 |
| Nevada | $93,040 |
| Virginia | $92,090 |
| Colorado | $91,390 |
| Vermont | $90,800 |
| Ohio | $87,700 |
| New Hampshire | $87,570 |
| Missouri | $87,180 |
| Indiana | $86,790 |
| Kansas | $85,880 |
| South Carolina | $85,330 |
| Florida | $84,850 |
| Montana | $83,830 |
| New Mexico | $83,330 |
| Maine | $83,320 |
| Texas | $82,810 |
| Alabama | $80,960 |
| Tennessee | $80,750 |
| Idaho | $80,090 |
| Arkansas | $78,810 |
| South Dakota | $77,800 |
| Mississippi | $77,020 |
| Arizona | $76,300 |
| Guam | $74,960 |
| Kentucky | $73,768 |
| Louisiana | $71,360 |
| West Virginia | $71,060 |
| Oklahoma | $70,390 |
| North Carolina | $68,120 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $67,640 |
| Puerto Rico | $48,340 |
| Connecticut | $130,460 |
| New Jersey | $126,440 |
| New York | $124,760 |
| California | $124,410 |
| Washington | $118,720 |
| Delaware | $115,850 |
| Maryland | $113,940 |
| Alaska | $110,040 |
| Oregon | $107,690 |
| Minnesota | $106,560 |
| Massachusetts | $106,450 |
| District of Columbia | $105,160 |
| Rhode Island | $104,220 |
| Nebraska | $100,070 |
How much does a Principal earn?
Great principals can make a huge difference in the lives of students and their communities. Principals have always been responsible for the management of their school, but lately they’ve also taken on an additional task of student achievement. In some instances, the increased hours and responsibility are not compensated for by minimal principal salary increases.
How do principal salaries compare to similar careers?
Principals earn 14% more than similar careers in the United States.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Distance learning coordinator salary | $85K |
| School psychologist salary | $78K |
| Nurse educator salary | $75K |
| Professor salary | $65K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)