School Principal Salary in United States
School principals lead schools, managing staff, students, budgets, and academics. The United States median is $123,000 per year. Pick a city below for a local breakdown.
Showing amounts in USD (USD default). FX as of Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies
National median
$123,000
per year
Monthly (national)
$10,300
per month, before tax
Highest-paying city
$168,000
Washington DC, DC
Hourly (national)
$59.13
varies by city
School Principal salary by city in United States
| City | Per year | Per month | vs. national |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington DC, DC | $168,000 | $14,000 | +37% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $156,000 | $13,000 | +27% |
| San Diego, CA | $152,000 | $12,700 | +24% |
| Chicago, IL | $130,000 | $10,800 | +6% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $127,000 | $10,600 | +3% |
| The Bronx, NY | $123,000 | $10,300 | 0% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $123,000 | $10,300 | 0% |
| Fort Worth, TX | $123,000 | $10,300 | 0% |
| Dallas, TX | $115,000 | $9,600 | -7% |
| Phoenix, AZ | $114,000 | $9,500 | -7% |
| Houston, TX | $110,000 | $9,200 | -11% |
| San Antonio, TX | $102,000 | $8,500 | -17% |
School Principal salary in other countries
United Kingdom
Canada
Australia
Germany
France
Netherlands
Switzerland
Singapore
India
Japan
South Korea
Poland
Brazil
United Arab Emirates
Mexico
Ireland
Spain
Italy
Sweden
Norway
Denmark
Belgium
Austria
Portugal
Finland
China
Hong Kong
New Zealand
Indonesia
Philippines
Vietnam
Thailand
Malaysia
Israel
Saudi Arabia
Turkey
Argentina
Colombia
South AfricaRelated Education salaries in United States
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a school principal make in United States?
- The national median school principal salary in United States is about $123,000 per year ($10,300 per month). Across 12 cities, pay ranges from about $102,000 to $168,000.
- Which United States city pays school principals the most?
- Washington DC, DC pays the most at about $168,000 per year.
- Which United States city pays school principals the least?
- Among cities we cover, San Antonio, TX is on the lower end at about $102,000 per year for a school principal.
- What is the typical salary range for a school principal in United States?
- Across United States cities we cover, school principal pay commonly spans from about $77,100 at the entry end in lower-paying markets up to about $223,000 for senior pay in higher-paying cities. Open a city page for the full local percentile band.
- How many United States cities have school principal salary data?
- Pay by Role publishes school principal pay for 12 cities in United States, all shown in USD.
- Is school principal in demand in United States?
- Employment for this role is projected to change by about +1% over the next decade. Related education roles on Pay by Role include Teacher, Professor.