Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal in Virginia is $107,790 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.
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
2026 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
AI-Powered Talent
Principal Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $121,190 | $10,099 | $2,331 | $58 |
| Average | $107,790 | $8,983 | $2,073 | $52 |
| 25th Percentile | $94,290 | $7,858 | $1,813 | $45 |
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 | $98,631 |
| Principal | 5+ years | $107,753 |
| Superintendent of Primary/Secondary Schools | 5+ years | $161,450 |
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 $111,239. While startup companies pay approximate $95,051.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $95,051 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $100,286 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $107,687 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $111,239 |
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 | $113,180 | $54.0 | 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 | $121,190 | $10,099 | $2,331 | $58 |
| Average | $107,790 | $8,983 | $2,073 | $52 |
| 25th Percentile | $94,290 | $7,858 | $1,813 | $45 |
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 $161,500 - 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.
Medallia
McLean, VA
Raft Company Website
McLean, VA
Raft Company Website | McLean, VA
Job Description. Job Description. This is a U.S. based position. All of the programs we support require. U.S. citizenship to be eligible for employment. Al... more
3 Days Ago
Appian Corporation
McLean, VA
Appian Corporation | McLean, VA
Job Description. Job Description. Here at Appian, our values of. Intensity. and. Excellence. define who we are. We set high standards and live up to them, ... more
5 Days Ago
Hazen and Sawyer
Roanoke, VA
Hazen and Sawyer | Roanoke, VA
Job Description. Job Description. Hazen and Sawyer is seeking applicants for a mid-level engineer for the planning, design, and construction administration... more
6 Days Ago
Oracle
Richmond, VA
Oracle | Richmond, VA
Job DescriptionLooking for an experienced Consultant to help design, configure, activate, and support the implementation of Oracle Health Population Health... more
7 Days Ago
Cumming Group
Arlington, VA
Cumming Group | Arlington, VA
At Cumming Group, you will work on some of the world's most exciting projects in a dynamic environment where your success is measured by the impact you mak... more
7 Days Ago
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.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
