As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal in the United States is $106,990 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $51.
However, a Principal's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
AI-Powered HR
A Principal's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Principal's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Principal | 0-5 years | $97,894 |
| Principal | 5+ years | $106,974 |
| Superintendent of Primary/Secondary Schools | 5+ years | $160,197 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Principals. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Leadership | 21.43% |
| Spring | 1.3% |
| Client Relationship | 0.96% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Business Development
|
$120,899 |
13%
|
|
Agile
|
$120,899 |
13%
|
|
Client Relationship
|
$119,829 |
12%
|
|
Project Management
|
$118,759 |
11%
|
|
Consulting
|
$117,689 |
10%
|
|
Alignment
|
$116,619 |
9%
|
Understanding how a Principal's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Last Updated on May 01, 2026For a Principal, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Superintendent of Primary/Secondary Schools role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $160,200 - a projected growth of 50% over your current level.
Salaries for a Principal can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $85,937 in 2023 to around $86,479 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Principal salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
View More
|
| 2023 | $85,937 |
| 2024 | $86,889 |
| 2025 | $86,479 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation PlanningHere are companies hiring for Principal and their salaries, click below for more details.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Principal job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
