Education5% remote-eligible+2.2% YoY growth

School Principal Salary
by City (2026)

Lead school operations, staff, curriculum, and community relations. National median: $102K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$102K

Top 10% earn

$152K

Entry level

$82K

Salary growth

+2.2%/yr

School Principal salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$107K	$133K	$163K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$105K	$131K	$160K	210	9.3%
Washington, DC	$103K	$128K	$156K	152	8.5%
New York City, NY	$101K	$126K	$154K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$101K	$125K	$153K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$101K	$125K	$153K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$100K	$124K	$153K	185	9.3%
Bellevue, WA	$98K	$122K	$150K	175	None ✓
Boston, MA	$98K	$122K	$150K	162	5%
Irvine, CA	$97K	$121K	$149K	172	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$97K	$120K	$148K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$96K	$119K	$146K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$96K	$119K	$146K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$95K	$118K	$145K	162	None ✓
Los Angeles, CA	$94K	$117K	$144K	163	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$94K	$117K	$144K	120	5%
Arlington, VA	$94K	$117K	$144K	148	5.75%
Newark, NJ	$94K	$117K	$144K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$94K	$117K	$143K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$93K	$116K	$142K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$92K	$115K	$140K	150	9.3%
San Diego, CA	$92K	$114K	$140K	148	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$92K	$114K	$140K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$92K	$114K	$140K	150	None ✓
Rockville, MD	$92K	$114K	$140K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$91K	$113K	$139K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$91K	$113K	$139K	145	10.75%
Philadelphia, PA	$90K	$112K	$138K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$90K	$112K	$138K	115	5.75%
Paterson, NJ	$90K	$112K	$137K	140	10.75%
Hartford, CT	$90K	$112K	$138K	118	6.99%
Honolulu, HI	$90K	$112K	$138K	192	11%
Chula Vista, CA	$89K	$111K	$136K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$89K	$111K	$136K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$89K	$111K	$136K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$89K	$110K	$135K	128	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$89K	$110K	$135K	155	9.3%
Portland, OR	$89K	$110K	$135K	130	9.9%
Anchorage, AK	$89K	$110K	$135K	128	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$86K	$107K	$131K	107	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$86K	$107K	$131K	128	None ✓
Denver, CO	$86K	$107K	$131K	118	4.55%
Durham, NC	$86K	$107K	$131K	100	4.75%
Madison, WI	$86K	$107K	$131K	102	5.3%
Minneapolis, MN	$86K	$107K	$131K	106	6.8%
St. Paul, MN	$86K	$107K	$131K	104	6.8%
New Haven, CT	$85K	$106K	$130K	122	6.99%
Frisco, TX	$84K	$105K	$129K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$84K	$105K	$129K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$84K	$105K	$129K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$84K	$105K	$129K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$84K	$105K	$129K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$84K	$105K	$129K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$84K	$105K	$129K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$84K	$105K	$129K	118	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$85K	$105K	$129K	120	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$84K	$105K	$129K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$84K	$105K	$129K	118	5.99%
Austin, TX	$84K	$104K	$128K	110	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$84K	$104K	$127K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$84K	$104K	$127K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$84K	$104K	$127K	115	4.55%
Raleigh, NC	$84K	$104K	$128K	102	4.75%
Ann Arbor, MI	$84K	$104K	$127K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$84K	$104K	$127K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$84K	$104K	$127K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$84K	$104K	$127K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$84K	$104K	$127K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$83K	$103K	$126K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$83K	$103K	$126K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$83K	$103K	$126K	112	4.75%
Eugene, OR	$82K	$103K	$126K	110	9.9%
Plano, TX	$82K	$102K	$125K	105	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$82K	$102K	$125K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$82K	$102K	$125K	123	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$82K	$102K	$125K	118	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$82K	$102K	$125K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$82K	$102K	$125K	108	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$82K	$102K	$125K	112	4.55%
Thornton, CO	$82K	$102K	$125K	108	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$82K	$102K	$125K	99	5.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$82K	$102K	$125K	90	3.07%
Salt Lake City, UT	$82K	$102K	$125K	105	4.85%
Provo, UT	$82K	$102K	$125K	100	4.85%
Boise, ID	$82K	$102K	$125K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$82K	$102K	$125K	108	6.6%
Dallas, TX	$81K	$101K	$124K	96	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$81K	$101K	$124K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$81K	$101K	$124K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$81K	$101K	$124K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$81K	$101K	$124K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$81K	$101K	$124K	105	5.8%
Houston, TX	$80K	$100K	$123K	91	None ✓
Irving, TX	$80K	$100K	$123K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$80K	$100K	$123K	108	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$80K	$100K	$123K	102	None ✓
Rochester, NY	$80K	$100K	$123K	90	6.85%
Tampa, FL	$80K	$100K	$123K	102	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$80K	$100K	$123K	118	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$80K	$100K	$123K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$80K	$100K	$123K	105	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$80K	$100K	$123K	100	4.75%
Richmond, VA	$80K	$100K	$123K	98	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$80K	$100K	$123K	102	None ✓
Columbus, OH	$80K	$100K	$123K	90	3.99%
Missoula, MT	$80K	$100K	$123K	102	6.75%
Fort Worth, TX	$80K	$99K	$121K	93	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$80K	$99K	$121K	94	None ✓
Denton, TX	$80K	$99K	$122K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$80K	$99K	$122K	100	9.3%
Albany, NY	$79K	$99K	$121K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$79K	$99K	$121K	98	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$80K	$99K	$122K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$80K	$99K	$122K	100	2.5%
Chesapeake, VA	$79K	$99K	$121K	98	5.75%
Rochester, MN	$80K	$99K	$122K	100	6.8%
North Las Vegas, NV	$79K	$99K	$121K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$79K	$99K	$121K	98	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$80K	$99K	$122K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$79K	$99K	$121K	98	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$80K	$99K	$122K	100	5.7%
Nampa, ID	$79K	$99K	$121K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$79K	$99K	$121K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$79K	$99K	$121K	98	7.15%
Dover, DE	$80K	$99K	$122K	100	6.6%
San Antonio, TX	$79K	$98K	$120K	87	None ✓
Garland, TX	$79K	$98K	$120K	91	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$79K	$98K	$120K	95	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$79K	$98K	$120K	100	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$79K	$98K	$120K	105	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$79K	$98K	$120K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$79K	$98K	$120K	95	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$79K	$98K	$120K	98	5.75%
Norfolk, VA	$79K	$98K	$120K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$79K	$98K	$120K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$79K	$98K	$120K	95	3.07%
St. Louis, MO	$79K	$98K	$120K	86	5.3%
Milwaukee, WI	$79K	$98K	$120K	90	5.3%
Reno, NV	$79K	$98K	$120K	108	None ✓
Charleston, SC	$79K	$98K	$120K	105	6.5%
North Charleston, SC	$79K	$98K	$120K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$78K	$97K	$119K	92	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$78K	$97K	$119K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$78K	$97K	$119K	93	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$78K	$97K	$119K	98	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$78K	$97K	$119K	102	4.55%
Athens, GA	$78K	$97K	$119K	92	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$78K	$97K	$119K	88	3.99%
Kansas City, MO	$78K	$97K	$119K	90	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$78K	$97K	$119K	88	3.23%
Duluth, MN	$78K	$97K	$119K	92	6.8%
Las Vegas, NV	$78K	$97K	$119K	102	None ✓
Huntsville, AL	$78K	$97K	$119K	88	5%
Greenville, SC	$78K	$97K	$119K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$78K	$97K	$119K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$77K	$96K	$118K	90	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$77K	$96K	$117K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$77K	$96K	$117K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$77K	$96K	$117K	88	6.85%
Tallahassee, FL	$77K	$96K	$118K	90	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$77K	$96K	$117K	88	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$77K	$96K	$118K	90	4.95%
Greensboro, NC	$77K	$96K	$117K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$77K	$96K	$117K	88	None ✓
Sterling Heights, MI	$77K	$96K	$118K	90	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$77K	$96K	$117K	88	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$77K	$96K	$118K	90	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$77K	$96K	$117K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$77K	$96K	$117K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$77K	$96K	$117K	88	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$77K	$96K	$118K	90	2.5%
Bismarck, ND	$77K	$96K	$117K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$77K	$96K	$117K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$77K	$96K	$117K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$76K	$95K	$116K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$76K	$95K	$116K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$76K	$95K	$116K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$76K	$95K	$116K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$76K	$95K	$116K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$76K	$95K	$116K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$76K	$95K	$116K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$76K	$95K	$116K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$76K	$95K	$116K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$76K	$95K	$116K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$76K	$95K	$116K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$76K	$95K	$116K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$76K	$95K	$116K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$76K	$94K	$115K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$76K	$94K	$115K	82	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$75K	$94K	$115K	102	9.3%
Spokane, WA	$75K	$94K	$115K	95	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$75K	$94K	$115K	90	2.5%
Pueblo, CO	$76K	$94K	$115K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$76K	$94K	$115K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$76K	$94K	$115K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$76K	$94K	$115K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$76K	$94K	$115K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$75K	$94K	$115K	82	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$75K	$94K	$115K	82	4.25%
Grand Rapids, MI	$75K	$94K	$115K	90	4.25%
South Bend, IN	$76K	$94K	$115K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$75K	$94K	$115K	85	5%
Mobile, AL	$76K	$94K	$115K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$75K	$94K	$115K	88	6.5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$76K	$94K	$115K	82	4.75%
Des Moines, IA	$75K	$94K	$115K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$76K	$94K	$115K	82	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$75K	$94K	$115K	88	5.84%
Killeen, TX	$75K	$93K	$115K	80	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$75K	$93K	$114K	78	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$75K	$93K	$115K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$75K	$93K	$115K	80	5.75%
Toledo, OH	$75K	$93K	$114K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$75K	$93K	$115K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$75K	$93K	$115K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$75K	$93K	$115K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$75K	$93K	$115K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$75K	$93K	$115K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$75K	$93K	$114K	78	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$75K	$93K	$115K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$75K	$93K	$115K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$75K	$93K	$115K	80	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$75K	$93K	$114K	78	6%
Las Cruces, NM	$75K	$93K	$115K	80	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$75K	$93K	$114K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$75K	$93K	$115K	80	5%
Charleston, WV	$75K	$93K	$114K	78	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$74K	$92K	$113K	82	None ✓
Corpus Christi, TX	$74K	$92K	$113K	84	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$74K	$92K	$113K	75	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$74K	$92K	$113K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$74K	$92K	$113K	82	5%
New Orleans, LA	$74K	$92K	$113K	92	6%
Baton Rouge, LA	$74K	$92K	$113K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$74K	$92K	$113K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$74K	$92K	$113K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$74K	$92K	$113K	75	6.5%
Lubbock, TX	$72K	$90K	$110K	78	None ✓
Savannah, GA	$72K	$90K	$110K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$72K	$90K	$110K	82	None ✓
Oklahoma City, OK	$72K	$90K	$110K	82	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$72K	$90K	$110K	82	5.7%
Little Rock, AR	$72K	$90K	$110K	82	4.9%
Tulsa, OK	$71K	$88K	$108K	80	4.75%
Laredo, TX	$70K	$87K	$106K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $102K School Principal salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

School Principal Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a School Principal is $102,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $82,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $125,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of School Principals nationally earn $152,000+.

Education and requirements

Master's in Education Administration; administrator license. This role is 5% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

School Principal compensation is growing at 2.2% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.

School Principal salary FAQ

How much does a School Principal make?

The median School Principal salary in the US is $102,000 per year — about $49/hour. Most earn between $82,000 (25th percentile) and $125,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a School Principal?

Entry-level School Principal positions typically start around $82,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid School Principals earn?

The top 10% of School Principals earn $152,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays School Principals the most?

San Francisco has the highest median School Principal salary at $133K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are School Principal salaries going up?

Yes — School Principal pay is growing about 2.2% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

School Principal Salaryby City (2026)