Elementary Principal Salary in the United States

How much does an Elementary Principal make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for an Elementary Principal in the United States is $106,010 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $51.

However, an Elementary Principal's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $129,751
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $99,285 to $118,437
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $93,163
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View as table View as graph 25% $99,285 10% $93,163 90% $129,751 75% $118,437 $106,010 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Elementary Principal Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $118,437 $9,870 $2,278 $57
Average $106,010 $8,834 $2,039 $51
25th Percentile $99,285 $8,274 $1,909 $48
Check out Elementary Principal Job Openings in the United States
Elementary Principal

Trumbull County Educational Service Center - Cortland, OH

Elementary Principal

Rainmaker Resources, LLC - Sharonville, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Elementary Principal Salaries

An Elementary 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Elementary Principal Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Elementary 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $81,668
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $105,097
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $128,711
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $148,919
  • Expert (over 8 years): $171,180
Levels Salary
Software ... Level Elementary Principal$81,668
Elementar... Level Elementary Principal$105,097
Software ... Level Elementary Principal$128,711
Software ... Level Elementary Principal$148,919
Software ... Level Elementary Principal$171,180
$81,668 0 yr
$105,097 < 2 yrs
$128,711 2-4 yrs
$148,919 5-8 yrs
$171,180 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Elementary Principals

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:

  • San Jose: $133,710
  • San Francisco: $132,396
  • Oakland: $129,459

What Skills Can Increase an Elementary Principal's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 2.91% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • API (Mentioned in 3.77% Job Postings): An application programming interface is a way for two or more computer programs to communicate with each other. It is a type of software interface, offering a service to other pieces of software.
  • SQL (Mentioned in 2.75% Job Postings): Structured Query Language) is a domain-specific language used in programming and designed for managing data held in a relational database management system (RDBMS), or for stream processing in a relational data stream management system (RDSMS).
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 2.91%
API 3.77%
SQL 2.75%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Elementary Principal's salary.
  • API: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Open Source: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Software Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
API
$111,311
5%
Open Source
$111,311
5%
Software Engineering
$111,311
5%
Networking
$111,311
5%
Products and Services
$111,311
5%
Python
$111,311
5%
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How Education impacts an Elementary Principal's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Elementary Principals enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Elementary Principal with a Bachelor's Degree is between $98,028 and $103,426).

Elementary Principal Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Elementary Principal
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 1.4%
Associates 1.7%
Bachelors 52.8%
Masters 41.3%
Doctorate 2.6%
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Elementary Principal Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Elementary 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 April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Elementary Principal

Salaries for an Elementary Principal can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $110,035 in 2023 to around $109,101 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Elementary Principal salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Elementary Principal Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$110,035
2024
$110,364
2025
$109,101
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $110,035
2024 $110,364
2025 $109,101
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Elementary Principal

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Elementary Principal

Here are companies hiring for Elementary Principal and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Elementary Principal Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Elementary Principal job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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.

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