In 2007–08, there were an estimated 118,610 school principals in the United
States; 90,470 were public school principals, 27,960 were private school
principals, and 170 were BIE-funded school principals (table 1).
Among public school principals, 81 percent were non-Hispanic White, 11 percent
were non-Hispanic Black, and 7 percent were Hispanic. Among private school
principals, 87 percent were non-Hispanic White, 7 percent were non-Hispanic
Black, and 4 percent were Hispanic (table 2).
About 50 percent of public school principals and 53 percent of private school
principals were female (table 3).
Among public schools, more principals held a master's degree (61 percent) as
their highest degree than a bachelor's degree or less (1 percent) or an education
specialist/professional diploma (29 percent) or a doctorate/first professional
degree (8 percent). Among private schools, more principals held a master's
degree (50 percent) as their highest degree earned, compared to those with a
bachelor's degree or less (33 percent) or an education specialist/professional
diploma (10 percent) or a doctorate/first professional degree (7 percent) (table 4).
The average annual salary of public school principals was $85,700. Principals in
public secondary schools earned more ($90,300) than principals in public
elementary schools ($85,200) and in public combined schools ($75,800). Among
private school principals, the average annual salary was $57,500. Principals in
private secondary schools earned more ($75,100) than principals in private
elementary schools ($55,500) and in private combined schools ($55,100)
(table 5).
On average, public school principals spent 58.4 hours per week on all school-related
activities, including 20.8 hours per week interacting with students. Private
school principals, on average, spent 53.6 hours per week on all school-related
activities, including 19.2 hours per week interacting with students (table 6).
Public school principals had, on average, 7.5 years of experience as a principal, of
which 4.2 years were spent in their current school. Private school principals had,
on average, 10.0 years of experience as a principal, of which 6.8 were spent in
their current school (table 7).
About 90 percent of public school principals reported having a major influence on
hiring new full-time teachers at their school, while 94 percent of private school
principals reported the same (table 8).