Pay by Role
France · Salary comparison

Professor vs School Principal salary

In France, a school principal earns about 8% more than a professor $149,409 vs $138,003 per year.

Showing amounts in USD (USD default; source data is EUR). FX as of Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies

Education
Professor
$138,003/yr
Monthly
$11,519
Hourly
$66
Range
$88,277$198,679
10-yr outlook
+8%
Pays more
Education
School Principal
$149,409/yr
Monthly
$12,432
Hourly
$72
Range
$102,305$206,891
10-yr outlook
+1%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileProfessorSchool Principal
Entry (10th)$88,277$102,305
25th$113,140$125,914
Median$138,003$149,409
75th$168,341$178,150
Senior (90th)$198,679$206,891

National France figures in EUR. Individual pay varies with experience, employer, and location.

More Education comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Does a professor or school principal earn more in France?
A school principal earns more, at about 131 000 € per year vs 121 000 € for a professor — roughly 8% (10 000 €) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in France?
A professor typically earns 77 400 €–174 200 €, while a school principal earns 89 700 €–181 400 € per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in France?
On a monthly basis before tax, a professor averages about 10 100 € and a school principal about 10 900 €.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in France, a professor earns about 77 400 € while a school principal earns about 89 700 € per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in France, a professor earns about 174 200 € while a school principal earns about 181 400 € per year.
Are professor and school principal similar careers?
Both roles sit in the Education category on Pay by Role, which is why we compare them head-to-head. Day-to-day work still differs — review each job page for skills and outlook.