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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal in North Carolina is $101,690 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $49.
However, a Principal's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Principal Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $114,290 | $9,524 | $2,198 | $55 |
| Average | $101,690 | $8,474 | $1,956 | $49 |
| 25th Percentile | $88,990 | $7,416 | $1,711 | $43 |
Lakeside Charter Academy - Cornelius, NC
Wake County Public Schools - Apex, NC
Haywood County Schools - Waynesville, NC
Henderson County Education Foundation - Hendersonville, NC
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 | $93,077 |
| Principal | 5+ years | $101,686 |
| Superintendent of Primary/Secondary Schools | 5+ years | $152,360 |
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:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
Principal salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $104,944. While startup companies pay approximate $89,672.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $89,672 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $94,610 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $101,593 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $104,944 |
For Principal roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 10% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Education, offers compensation 5% above the average. Conversely, Principal positions in Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Principal as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | $106,774 | $51.0 | 5% |
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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $114,290 | $9,524 | $2,198 | $55 |
| Average | $101,690 | $8,474 | $1,956 | $49 |
| 25th Percentile | $88,990 | $7,416 | $1,711 | $43 |
For 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 $152,400 - a projected growth of 50% over your current level.
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.
Randolph County School System
Franklinville, NC
Rockingham County Schools
Eden, NC
Central Carolina Academy
Sanford, NC
Central Carolina Academy | Sanford, NC
Job Description. Job Description. Assistant Principal Job Description. Reports to the principal. Experience as a middle and/or high school administrator pr... more
5 Days Ago
Chesterbrook Academy
Morrisville, NC
Chesterbrook Academy | Morrisville, NC
Chesterbrook Academy is a multi-location school group with campuses in Florida, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolin... more
5 Days Ago
Hazen and Sawyer
Raleigh, NC
Hazen and Sawyer | Raleigh, NC
Job Description. Job Description. Hazen and Sawyer is seeking a Water/Wastewater Project Engineer for our Raleigh office office. As part of our design and ... more
6 Days Ago
Sampson County Schools
Roseboro, NC
Sampson County Schools | Roseboro, NC
JOB DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALREPORTS TO: PrincipalSUPERVISES: Will supervise as assigned by the principal.PURPOSE: The assistant principal ser... more
7 Days Ago
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