Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Summary

elementary middle and high school principals image

Elementary, middle, and high school principals manage the day-to-day operations of schools.

Quick Facts: Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals
2017 Median Pay	$94,390 per year
Typical Entry-Level Education	Master's degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	5 years or more
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2016	251,300
Job Outlook, 2016-26	8% (As fast as average)
Employment Change, 2016-26	19,800

What Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals Do

Elementary, middle, and high school principals manage all school operations, including daily school activities. They coordinate curriculums, oversee teachers and other school staff, and provide a safe and productive learning environment for students.

Work Environment

Principals work in public and private elementary, middle, and high schools. Most principals work year round.

How to Become an Elementary, Middle, or High School Principal

Principals typically need a master’s degree in education administration or leadership. In addition, they need prior work experience as a teacher.

Pay

The median annual wage for elementary, middle, and high school principals was $94,390 in May 2017.

Job Outlook

Employment of elementary, middle, and high school principals is projected to grow 8 percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Employment growth will be affected by student enrollment and the number of educational institutions.

State & Area Data

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for elementary, middle, and high school principals.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of elementary, middle, and high school principals with similar occupations.

More Information, Including Links to O*NET

Learn more about elementary, middle, and high school principals by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

What Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals Do About this section

Principals counsel students.

Duties

Elementary, middle, and high school principals typically do the following:

Manage school activities and staff, including teachers and support personnel
Establish and oversee class schedules
Develop, implement, and maintain curriculum standards
Counsel and discipline students
Observe teachers and evaluate their performance
Meet with parents and teachers to discuss students’ progress and behavior
Assess and prepare reports on test scores and other student achievement data
Organize professional development programs and workshops for staff
Manage the school’s budget, order school supplies, and schedule maintenance
Establish and coordinate security procedures for students, staff, and visitors

Elementary, middle, and high school principals manage the overall operation of schools, including building maintenance and cafeteria services. They set and oversee academic goals and ensure that teachers have the necessary equipment and resources. Principals may establish and oversee additional programs in their school, such as counseling, special education programs, and before- and after-school childcare programs.

In public schools, principals also implement standards and programs set by the school district, state, and federal regulations. They evaluate and prepare reports on their school’s performance based on these standards by assessing student achievement and teacher performance.

Principals serve as the public representative of their school. They meet with superintendents, legislators, and members of the community to request or explain funding for their schools. They also address the concerns of parents and the community.

The duties of principals vary by the size of the school and district. In larger schools and districts, principals have additional resources and staff to help them achieve goals. For example, large school districts often have instructional coordinators who help with data analysis and with teachers’ professional development. Principals also may have staff who oversee the hiring process of all school personnel, including teachers, custodians, and cafeteria workers. In smaller school districts, principals may need to assume these and other duties themselves.

Many schools have assistant principals who help principals with school administration. Principals typically assign specific administrative duties to their assistant principals. In some school districts, assistant principals handle a specific subject area, such as literacy or math. Assistants may be assigned to handle student safety, provide student academic counseling, or enforce disciplinary or attendance rules. They may also coordinate buses or supervise building and grounds maintenance.

Work Environment About this section

Principals meet with parents and teachers to discuss students’ progress.

Elementary, middle, and high school principals held about 251,300 jobs in 2016. The largest employers of elementary, middle, and high school principals were as follows:

Elementary and secondary schools; local	78%
Elementary and secondary schools; private	17

Elementary, middle, and high school principals hold leadership positions with significant responsibility. Working with students may be rewarding. However, coordinating and interacting with faculty, parents, students, community members, and state and local policymakers can be demanding. Principals’ work can sometimes be stressful because they are accountable for ensuring that schools meet state and federal standards for student performance and teacher qualification.

Work Schedules

Principals typically work full time. They may work evenings or weekends to meet with parents and other members of the community and to attend school functions, such as concerts and athletic events.

Many principals work year round and do not have summers off, even if students are not in school. During the summer, principals schedule building maintenance, order school supplies, and hire new teachers and other staff in preparation for the upcoming school year.

How to Become an Elementary, Middle, or High School Principal About this section

Most schools require elementary, middle, and high school principals to have a master’s degree in education administration or leadership. Principals also need experience as teachers.

Education

Principals typically need a master’s degree in education leadership or education administration. These master’s degree programs prepare future principals to manage staff, create budgets, set goals, and work with parents and the community. To enter the master’s degree programs, candidates typically need a bachelor’s degree in education, school counseling, or a related field.

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

Principals need several years of prior work experience as a teacher. For more information on how to become a teacher, see the profiles on kindergarten and elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, and high school teachers.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Most states require public school principals to be licensed as school administrators. Licensure requirements vary by state, but most require a master’s degree. Some states have alternative programs for candidates who do not have a master’s degree in education administration or leadership. Most states also require candidates to pass an exam and a background check.

Principals in private schools are not required to have a state-issued license.

Advancement

An assistant principal can advance to become a principal. Some principals advance to become superintendents, which may require completion of additional education. Others become instructional coordinators.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Principals must communicate effectively with students, teachers, and parents. For example, when dealing with student disciplinary or academic issues, they must consult with and listen to parents and teachers in order to understand the problem.

Critical-thinking skills. Principals analyze student test results and testing procedures to determine if improvements are needed. They must assess the available options and choose the best means to help students achieve better results.

Decisionmaking skills. Because principals are responsible for students, staff members, and the overall operation of the school, they consider many factors when making decisions.

Interpersonal skills. Because principals work with teachers, parents, and superintendents, they must be able to develop positive working relationships with them.

Leadership skills. Principals set educational goals and establish policies and procedures for the school. They need to be able to motivate teachers and other staff to achieve set goals.

Problem-solving skills. Teachers, students, and other staff members report problems to the principal. Principals need to be able to analyze problems, and develop and implement appropriate solutions.

Pay About this section

Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals

Median annual wages, May 2017

Elementary, middle, and high school principals: $94,390
Other management occupations: $88,720
Total, all occupations: $37,690

The median annual wage for elementary, middle, and high school principals was $94,390 in May 2017. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $60,760, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $140,780.

In May 2017, the median annual wages for elementary, middle, and high school principals in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Elementary and secondary schools; local	$95,860
Elementary and secondary schools; private	83,970

Principals typically work full time. They may work evenings or weekends to meet with parents and other members of the community and to attend school functions, such as concerts and athletic events.

Principals work year round and do not have summers off, even if students are not in school. During the summer, principals prepare for the upcoming school year, schedule building maintenance, order school supplies, and hire teachers and other staff.

Job Outlook About this section

Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals

Percent change in employment, projected 2016-26

Elementary, middle, and high school principals: 8%
Other management occupations: 8%
Total, all occupations: 7%

There are a limited number of principal positions available per school. If student enrollment increases, more schools will open, which could increase demand. Conversely, stagnant or decreasing student enrollment may reduce the demand for principals.

Employment growth of school principals will also depend on state and local budgets. Budget constraints may delay the building or opening of new schools. In addition, some school districts may consolidate and close some schools within their districts, thereby limiting employment growth. However, if there is a budget surplus, school districts may open more schools which could lead to an employment growth.

Job Prospects

As the large baby-boom generation retires, there may be better opportunities for candidates to advance into the principal occupation.

Employment projections data for elementary, middle, and high school principals, 2016-26
Occupational Title	SOC Code	Employment, 2016	Projected Employment, 2026	Change, 2016-26		Employment by Industry
Occupational Title	SOC Code	Employment, 2016	Projected Employment, 2026	Percent	Numeric	Employment by Industry
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Education administrators, elementary and secondary school	11-9032	251,300	271,100	8	19,800	xlsx

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment Statistics (OES)

The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

Education administrators, elementary and secondary school

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Similar Occupations About this section

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of elementary, middle, and high school principals.

Occupation	Job Duties	ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION	2017 MEDIAN PAY
Career and Technical Education Teachers	Career and technical education teachers instruct students in various technical and vocational subjects, such as auto repair, healthcare, and culinary arts. They teach academic and technical content to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to enter an occupation.	Bachelor's degree	$55,240
High School Teachers	High school teachers help prepare students for life after graduation. They teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the job market.	Bachelor's degree	$59,170
Instructional Coordinators	Instructional coordinators oversee school curriculums and teaching standards. They develop instructional material, coordinate its implementation with teachers and principals, and assess its effectiveness.	Master's degree	$63,750
Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers	Kindergarten and elementary school teachers instruct young students in basic subjects, such as math and reading, in order to prepare them for future schooling.	Bachelor's degree	$56,900
Librarians	Librarians help people find information and conduct research for personal and professional use. Their job duties may change based on the type of library they work in, such as public, academic, and medical libraries.	Master's degree	$58,520
Middle School Teachers	Middle school teachers educate students, typically in sixth through eighth grades. They help students build on the fundamentals they learned in elementary school and prepare them for the more difficult curriculum they will face in high school.	Bachelor's degree	$57,720
Postsecondary Education Administrators	Postsecondary education administrators oversee student services, academics, and faculty research at colleges and universities. Their job duties vary depending on the area of the college they manage, such as admissions, student life, or the registrar’s office.	Master's degree	$92,360
Postsecondary Teachers	Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and technical subjects beyond the high school level. They may also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.	See How to Become One	$76,000
Preschool and Childcare Center Directors	Preschool and childcare center directors supervise and lead their staffs, design program plans, oversee daily activities, and prepare budgets. They are responsible for all aspects of their center’s program.	Bachelor's degree	$46,890
Preschool Teachers	Preschool teachers educate and care for children younger than age 5 who have not yet entered kindergarten. They teach language, motor, and social skills to young children.	Associate's degree	$28,990
School and Career Counselors	School counselors help students develop the academic and social skills needed to succeed in school. Career counselors help people choose careers and follow a path to employment.	Master's degree	$55,410
Special Education Teachers	Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. They adapt general education lessons and teach various subjects, such as reading, writing, and math, to students with mild and moderate disabilities. They also teach basic skills, such as literacy and communication techniques, to students with severe disabilities.	Bachelor's degree	$58,980
Teacher Assistants	Teacher assistants work under a teacher’s supervision to give students additional attention and instruction.	Some college, no degree	$26,260