A school principal earns a variety of different types of pay. Salary figures vary depending on the type of job, years of experience and location.
The average salary for a school principle is $70,000. Base pay for a senior adminstration usually begins at around $60,000 per year. Most district superintendents, however, earn between 40 and 60 percent more than the average. Almost all principals supervise other administrators and teachers, as well as make lesson plans and administer disciplinary actions. They also oversee budgets and report to governing boards on issues related to their school’s performance.”
Salary For School Principal Overview
The salary of a secondary school principal in Nigeria depends on the level of education they have completed and where they work.
The Nigerian government pays teachers an annual salary between NGN 1,000,000 and NGN 2,500,000. However, the salaries for teachers vary according to the type of school where they teach, and whether or not the teacher is certified.
As a secondary school principal in Nigeria, you will earn an annual salary between NGN 1,500,000 and NGN 4,000,000.
Principal Job Description
If you are interested in an education career, but are looking at opportunities outside of a classroom, you may be interested in a career as a school principal. Principals are in charge of the schools they serve, overseeing the operations, staff, and curriculum for the entire school. These professionals work in both public and private schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels and are responsible for:
- School budgets and schedules
- Curriculum standards
- Student issues and discipline
- Teacher hiring, retention, and evaluations
- Advocating for the school and its teacher and students
- Fulfilling school board requirements
Job duties can also vary based on the grade levels that the principal is overseeing. For example, if you are an elementary school principal, you could be charged with designing and implementing a curriculum specific to grades K-6, which requires specialized training in that area and knowledge of teaching strategies for younger children.
The discipline and behavior policies that a principal is responsible for will also look different depending on the age group. High school principals and those who oversee middle schools may have to manage student suspensions or expulsions, which aren’t as common in elementary schools.
If you’re wondering about the steps to become a school principal, you generally need to:
- Acquire experience as a teacher. The requirements to become a teacher vary by state, but often include having a bachelor’s degree, completing a teacher preparation program, and securing state certification.
- Earn a relevant master’s degree. You typically need to have a master’s degree in a related field, such as school administration or education leadership.
- Secure licensure. If you plan to work in a public school, you’ll often need to be licensed as a school administrator.
What Is an Elementary School Principal?
Although daily tasks vary depending on the school, elementary school principals’ primary responsibility is to ensure a safe learning environment for students and support teachers and staff. Elementary school principals may observe teachers, discipline children, oversee schedules, develop curricula and manage the school budget. These professionals often meet with teachers and/or parents to discuss a student’s progress or behavioral issues. They also periodically evaluate their teachers and provide professional development opportunities for them through workshops. To learn more about the average salary for these positions, in addition to entry-level requirements, take a look at the table below:
A Day In The Life Of A High School Principal
While high school principals may have a variety of day-to-day tasks that need attention, the role is largely focused on strategy. High school principals oversee developing curriculums, course schedules, and programs that create an ideal learning environment for students and an ideal teaching environment for teachers. Their overall focus is on how to set a school up in a way that ensures student success, so much of their time is spent strategizing, planning, monitoring, and campaigning on behalf of the school.
While the principal may manage some staff members directly and some indirectly, he/she is ultimately accountable for ensuring all open roles are filled with effective, experienced individuals that will serve as assets to the school and its initiatives. This may require the high school principal to participate in the interviewing process and weigh in on hiring decisions, even when the hired individual will not work directly under the principal. Additionally, the principal is in charge of managing the school budget.
Outside of school operation responsibilities, the high school principal serves as the face of the school. He/she speaks at community meetings on behalf of the school, provides reports to school boards, superintendents, and other governing authorities, and attends school events to show support. A high school principal may deal with individual students more infrequently than other staff members and may only occasionally step in to handle disciplinary issues or acknowledge achievements.
How To Become A High School Principal
Most high school principals begin their careers as teachers, educating students in grades 9, 10, 11, or 12. As such, a bachelor’s degree in education that leads to a teaching certification or license is the first requirement for individuals who are aspiring principals. The degree pursued will include a focus on the subject you’re most interested in teaching as well as classes on lesson planning and pedagogy.
After earning a bachelor’s degree and a teaching license, you need to do two things: one is to work as a high school teacher for several years, and the other is to pursue a master’s degree in educational administration and leadership. A master’s degree is usually a prerequisite for working as either an assistant principal or principal because it provides students with education on the legal obligations for running a school and offers practical knowledge on working as a school administrator or leader.
After gaining experience as a teacher and earning a master’s degree, you may qualify for assistant principal positions. Organizations typically want to hire high school principals with prior school administration experience, and working as an assistant principal will provide the needed experience. Some aspiring principals also pursue a Ph.D. in education or administration while working as an assistant principal in order to have an edge over other applicants for open high school principal positions.
School Principal Salary
The overall median salary for elementary, middle and high school principals was $94,390 in 2017, but this salary can vary quite a bit depending on where you work. Let’s examine the salaries for several different principal career options, keeping in mind that the salary for school principals may be dependent on the type of school a principal works at, such as a private or public school.
| Principal Type | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Private School (all grades) | $83,970 |
| Public School (all grades) | $95,860 |
| Elementary School | $80,127 |
| Middle School | $90,978 |
| High School | $88,833 |
| High School Assistant Principal | $85,197 |
Private School Principal Salary
As of 2016, about 17% of school principals worked in private schools. Private schools include both religious-based schools and non-religious schools. Private school principals have similar tasks to their peers in public schools, but may also be responsible for admissions policies and decisions for their schools.
Principals working in private schools earned annual wages lower than their public school counterparts, with a median annual salary of $83,970 in 2017. Principals who worked at Christian schools earned a median salary of $79,617. Salaries for private school principals are often dependent on experience, so those who have worked longer in the field or have a more advanced degree, such as a Ph.D., can earn more than principals who are just starting out.
Public School Principal Salary
Public school principals need a license or certification from their state in order to find employment in this field. Certification requirements for principals include passing an exam and completing a graduate-level degree program in a field such as education administration. Public school principals earned a median annual salary of $95,860. Salaries for public school principals are dependent on several key components, including the grade level and the size of the school they are running, as well as a principal’s years of professional experience. In some cases, school districts with higher tax revenue may pay higher salaries to principals.
Elementary School Principal Salary
If you enjoy working with younger children, you may wish to become an elementary school principal. Elementary administrative positions include working as principals, vice principals or school administrators, and all of these individuals work with students in kindergarten up to middle school. These professionals set goals for student performance and behavior in classroom settings, serve as mentors to new teachers, and monitor student attendance issues. At this level, principals may also be responsible for childcare programs and activities before or after school hours.
Elementary school principals earned a median salary of $80,127 per year in 2018. Because principal salaries are often determined by grade level, principals in elementary schools often make less than their counterparts in middle and high schools.
Middle School Principal Salary
Professionals who want to work with students in grades 6-8 can pursue a career as a middle school principal. Along with a graduate degree and teaching experience, these professionals need leadership and managerial skills to find work at this school level. Middle school principals guide students who are making the leap from the elementary school world into a new arena where classes are broken up by subject and students have varied class schedules and more responsibilities. In addition to handling middle school curriculum and discipline issues, these principals oversee athletics programs and coaches, motivate teachers, and set goals in line with school district objectives. Middle school principals earned a median salary of $90,978.
High School Principal Salary
A No InterWiki reference defined in properties for Wiki called “[https”! oversees their school during the school year and spends their summers overseeing building maintenance and improvements or looking for new teachers and school equipment. High school principals earned a median salary of $88,833 in 2018. As with other grade levels, a high school principal’s salary is determined by years of experience. Entry-level principals in high schools earned a median salary of $78,923, while those with more than 20 years of experience earned a median of $95,714 annually.
Professionals at this level can also seek related high school administrator roles, such as superintendents or assistant principals.
