Money · 1 of 5
What principals make
Typical
$105,870
Assistant principal or small school
$76,280
Large high school or wealthy district
$167,770
The national median is $105,870 a year, and the bottom tenth start near $76,280. This counts principals and assistant principals from kindergarten through high school. The single biggest factor is the district: a suburban high school principal in New York or California can earn more than double a rural elementary principal in a low-funding state.