SOC 11-9032 · May 2025
Principal Salary
Principals in the US earn a median of $105,870 a year, according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. The top 10% earn $167,770 or more, 2.2 times the $76,280 at the 10th percentile.
Median annual
$105,870
Half of all Principals in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
Hourly
–
Job growth 2025-35
-0.3%
US workers
328,330
BLS series
Annual median wage for Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Principals is $76,280 – $167,770.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$76,280
25th
$86,040
Median
$105,870
75th
$134,630
90th
$167,770
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Principals. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $76,280 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $86,040 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $105,870 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $134,630 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $167,770 |
Geography
Principal pay by state
Principals earn the most in Washington ($166,590, +57% against the national median) and the least in West Virginia ($80,650). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$105,870
Highest-paying states for principals
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $166,590 | +57% | 6,470 |
| California | $159,950 | +51% | 31,370 |
| Connecticut | $156,240 | +48% | 4,610 |
| New York | $138,830 | +31% | 19,210 |
| D.C. | $137,470 | +30% | 1,930 |
| New Jersey | $137,440 | +30% | 11,450 |
| Delaware | $132,710 | +25% | 1,100 |
| Maryland | $131,510 | +24% | 7,200 |
| Oregon | $130,050 | +23% | 4,160 |
| Utah | $128,880 | +22% | 2,940 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $166,590 | 6,470 |
| California | $159,950 | 31,370 |
| Connecticut | $156,240 | 4,610 |
| New York | $138,830 | 19,210 |
| D.C. | $137,470 | 1,930 |
| New Jersey | $137,440 | 11,450 |
| Delaware | $132,710 | 1,100 |
| Maryland | $131,510 | 7,200 |
| Oregon | $130,050 | 4,160 |
| Utah | $128,880 | 2,940 |
| Massachusetts | $128,430 | 10,570 |
| Minnesota | $127,000 | 4,120 |
| Hawaii | $126,760 | 1,910 |
| Alaska | $125,520 | 890 |
| Rhode Island | $119,980 | 1,160 |
| Pennsylvania | $118,710 | 14,460 |
| Wisconsin | $117,010 | 4,030 |
| Illinois | $113,360 | 14,850 |
| Nebraska | $110,580 | 1,860 |
| Colorado | $110,530 | 5,760 |
| Nevada | $109,420 | 2,490 |
| North Dakota | $107,940 | 810 |
| New Mexico | $107,720 | 2,290 |
| Virginia | $106,100 | 8,470 |
| Wyoming | $105,480 | 410 |
| Vermont | $105,350 | 1,000 |
| New Hampshire | $104,910 | 1,590 |
| Iowa | $104,260 | 3,310 |
| Michigan | $104,020 | 9,610 |
| Georgia | $103,360 | 7,530 |
| Maine | $102,890 | 1,710 |
| South Carolina | $102,440 | 5,000 |
| Idaho | $101,090 | 1,830 |
| Kansas | $100,530 | 2,520 |
| Missouri | $100,400 | 7,120 |
| Kentucky | $99,920 | 4,940 |
| Ohio | $99,590 | 12,480 |
| Indiana | $98,770 | 6,990 |
| Tennessee | $97,590 | 6,180 |
| Arizona | $97,480 | 5,270 |
| Alabama | $97,480 | 3,020 |
| Florida | $96,490 | 16,960 |
| Montana | $95,700 | 930 |
| Texas | $93,910 | 37,140 |
| South Dakota | $88,390 | 680 |
| Oklahoma | $86,630 | 4,320 |
| Arkansas | $86,330 | 2,760 |
| Louisiana | $83,360 | 5,080 |
| North Carolina | $83,180 | 11,220 |
| Mississippi | $82,800 | 3,170 |
| West Virginia | $80,650 | 1,480 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Principals
Education administrators at the elementary and secondary school level (BLS SOC 11-9032), commonly principals and assistant principals, oversee curriculum, staff, budget, and student outcomes within a school. The role typically requires a master's degree in education leadership and state administrator credentialing. Pay scales with district size, region, and grade level (high-school principals typically earn above elementary). Public school administration is paid on district step-and-lane schedules; private and charter school pay varies with school type and funding model.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $76,280 – $167,770. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Washington, California and Connecticut. Pay in Washington runs 2.1 times the level in West Virginia, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as master's degree, and projects about 20,600 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to shrink 0.3% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Principal salary in the US?
How much do Principals make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Principals the most?
Is the average Principal salary higher than the median?
Is Principal a growing career?
Open positions
Open Principal roles hiring now
Browse current Principal listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 11-9032. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.