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| 2019 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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| Table 212.10. | Highest degree, average years of experience, and salaries of principals in public and private elementary and secondary schools, by selected characteristics: Selected years, 1993-94 through 2017-18 |
| [Standard errors appear in parentheses] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected characteristic |
Percentage distribution by highest degree earned, 2017-18 |
Average years of experience | Average annual salary in constant 2018-19 dollars1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As a principal | Prior teaching experience, 2017-18 |
1993-94 | 2003-04 | 2007-08 | 2011-12 | 2015-16 | 2017-18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bachelor's or less |
Master's | Education special- ist2 |
Doctor's and first- professional |
1993-94 | 2003-04 | 2007-08 | 2011-12 | 2015-16 | 2017-18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Public schools | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 1.8 | (0.22) | 61.8 | (0.65) | 25.9 | (0.60) | 10.5 | (0.41) | 8.7 | (0.10) | 7.8 | (0.10) | 7.5 | (0.14) | 7.2 | (0.09) | 6.6 | (0.09) | 6.8 | (0.09) | 11.3 | (0.07) | $95,020 | (219) | $102,760 | (252) | $102,580 | (459) | $100,730 | (276) | $101,740 | (314) | $100,340 | (326) | |||||||||||||||||
| Sex | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Males | 1.4 | (0.24) | 64.1 | (0.93) | 25.1 | (0.84) | 9.4 | (0.54) | 10.3 | (0.16) | 9.1 | (0.16) | 8.2 | (0.20) | 7.7 | (0.12) | 7.0 | (0.13) | 7.3 | (0.12) | 10.3 | (0.10) | 95,130 | (277) | 102,930 | (395) | 103,000 | (795) | 101,530 | (486) | 102,990 | (466) | 102,690 | (500) | |||||||||||||||||
| Females | 2.2 | (0.35) | 59.7 | (0.91) | 26.5 | (0.79) | 11.6 | (0.62) | 5.6 | (0.12) | 6.3 | (0.13) | 6.8 | (0.19) | 6.6 | (0.15) | 6.2 | (0.12) | 6.3 | (0.11) | 12.2 | (0.10) | 94,810 | (478) | 102,570 | (455) | 102,160 | (746) | 99,980 | (530) | 100,690 | (473) | 98,300 | (511) | |||||||||||||||||
Race/ethnicity |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| White | 2.0 | (0.28) | 61.0 | (0.76) | 27.8 | (0.71) | 9.2 | (0.38) | 9.0 | (0.12) | 8.0 | (0.12) | 7.8 | (0.17) | 7.3 | (0.10) | 6.8 | (0.11) | 7.0 | (0.10) | 11.5 | (0.09) | 94,340 | (239) | 102,180 | (301) | 101,490 | (526) | 100,090 | (355) | 100,800 | (352) | 99,440 | (373) | |||||||||||||||||
| Black | 0.8 | ! | (0.25) | 53.6 | (2.22) | 24.0 | (1.82) | 21.5 | (1.84) | 7.1 | (0.21) | 6.9 | (0.33) | 6.2 | (0.38) | 6.2 | (0.30) | 6.0 | (0.23) | 6.0 | (0.23) | 10.6 | (0.26) | 99,890 | (787) | 105,290 | (905) | 105,080 | (1,550) | 102,870 | (1,271) | 103,610 | (1,159) | 101,140 | (1,207) | ||||||||||||||||
| Hispanic | 1.3 | ! | (0.39) | 75.3 | (2.02) | 14.3 | (1.54) | 9.2 | (1.45) | 6.3 | (0.37) | 6.1 | (0.43) | 6.5 | (0.62) | 6.1 | (0.42) | 5.5 | (0.28) | 6.0 | (0.24) | 10.8 | (0.25) | 96,760 | (1,383) | 108,130 | (1,863) | 111,180 | (3,175) | 104,260 | (1,572) | 106,100 | (1,285) | 105,080 | (1,566) | ||||||||||||||||
| Asian3 | 4.8 | ! | (1.83) | 66.6 | (5.97) | 19.2 | ! | (6.17) | 9.5 | ! | (4.25) | 6.0 | (0.60) | 6.8 | (1.17) | 6.3 | (0.97) | 7.7 | (1.13) | 6.5 | (0.90) | 5.4 | (0.71) | 11.8 | (0.87) | 102,970 | (2,469) | 112,480 | (2,276) | 123,750 | (7,978) | 114,120 | (4,742) | 117,460 | (3,175) | 125,390 | (3,075) | ||||||||||||||
| Pacific Islander | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | --- | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | |||||||||||||||||
| American Indian/ Alaska Native |
‡ | (†) | 77.1 | (6.73) | 8.8 | ! | (4.21) | 14.2 | ! | (5.88) | 12.6 | (0.67) | 6.9 | (0.63) | 6.4 | (1.30) | 9.2 | (1.67) | 8.2 | (1.06) | 7.2 | (1.03) | 11.8 | (0.96) | 88,540 | (3,003) | 84,390 | (2,895) | 91,670 | (3,944) | 89,640 | (4,172) | 97,740 | (6,323) | 86,680 | (3,867) | |||||||||||||||
| Two or more races | ‡ | (†) | 69.1 | (6.34) | 18.3 | (5.07) | 7.9 | ! | (3.51) | --- | (†) | 5.6 | (1.12) | 5.8 | (1.50) | 7.8 | (0.77) | 5.1 | (0.64) | 6.8 | (0.87) | 10.0 | (0.80) | --- | (†) | 103,170 | (5,126) | 97,710 | (6,730) | 102,010 | (4,038) | 99,500 | (3,181) | 103,040 | (3,323) | ||||||||||||||||
Age |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Under 40 | 2.6 | ! | (0.84) | 65.4 | (1.68) | 23.3 | (1.36) | 8.8 | (0.79) | 2.8 | (0.13) | 2.4 | (0.10) | 2.9 | (0.14) | 3.0 | (0.10) | 2.5 | (0.07) | 2.7 | (0.08) | 7.8 | (0.10) | 80,620 | (820) | 93,660 | (741) | 95,100 | (1,083) | 95,450 | (778) | 93,570 | (781) | 92,310 | (782) | ||||||||||||||||
| 40 to 44 | 1.6 | (0.34) | 64.0 | (1.42) | 24.8 | (1.38) | 9.6 | (0.87) | 5.0 | (0.12) | 4.5 | (0.18) | 4.8 | (0.22) | 4.8 | (0.13) | 4.5 | (0.11) | 4.5 | (0.13) | 9.8 | (0.13) | 90,140 | (668) | 98,410 | (901) | 100,200 | (1,336) | 98,050 | (722) | 100,920 | (658) | 99,150 | (729) | |||||||||||||||||
| 45 to 49 | 1.6 | (0.40) | 59.3 | (1.42) | 28.9 | (1.29) | 10.2 | (0.88) | 7.1 | (0.13) | 6.1 | (0.16) | 6.1 | (0.26) | 6.5 | (0.18) | 6.4 | (0.15) | 6.6 | (0.15) | 11.2 | (0.16) | 96,000 | (452) | 99,730 | (717) | 101,510 | (1,150) | 99,980 | (954) | 103,200 | (786) | 102,390 | (726) | |||||||||||||||||
| 50 to 54 | 1.5 | (0.34) | 61.6 | (1.52) | 26.7 | (1.33) | 10.3 | (1.09) | 10.3 | (0.18) | 8.7 | (0.19) | 8.2 | (0.28) | 8.1 | (0.24) | 7.9 | (0.23) | 8.1 | (0.19) | 12.7 | (0.20) | 97,970 | (631) | 104,870 | (594) | 103,910 | (1,103) | 101,920 | (992) | 104,400 | (958) | 102,440 | (1023) | |||||||||||||||||
| 55 or over | 2.0 | (0.48) | 59.7 | (1.42) | 25.0 | (1.22) | 13.3 | (0.95) | 15.1 | (0.35) | 11.9 | (0.23) | 11.8 | (0.29) | 11.8 | (0.22) | 11.2 | (0.25) | 11.1 | (0.22) | 14.4 | (0.19) | 100,160 | (857) | 109,000 | (648) | 107,920 | (1,117) | 106,310 | (673) | 106,220 | (857) | 103,640 | (785) | |||||||||||||||||
School level |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elementary | 1.5 | (0.27) | 62.4 | (0.81) | 25.9 | (0.75) | 10.2 | (0.53) | 8.9 | (0.14) | 7.9 | (0.13) | 7.7 | (0.17) | 7.2 | (0.13) | 6.6 | (0.12) | 6.8 | (0.11) | 11.3 | (0.09) | 93,810 | (292) | 102,620 | (306) | 101,970 | (585) | 99,690 | (337) | 101,170 | (408) | 99,780 | (399) | |||||||||||||||||
| Secondary | 2.0 | (0.48) | 58.7 | (1.27) | 27.1 | (1.13) | 12.2 | (0.80) | 8.0 | (0.12) | 7.5 | (0.19) | 7.1 | (0.19) | 7.1 | (0.15) | 6.4 | (0.16) | 6.7 | (0.16) | 11.1 | (0.16) | 98,040 | (289) | 108,020 | (601) | 107,980 | (841) | 107,190 | (680) | 107,360 | (773) | 106,470 | (649) | |||||||||||||||||
| Combined | 3.6 | (0.55) | 64.0 | (1.70) | 23.0 | (1.55) | 9.4 | (0.96) | 7.5 | (0.29) | 7.4 | (0.36) | 7.1 | (0.43) | 7.1 | (0.29) | 7.0 | (0.29) | 6.9 | (0.26) | 11.9 | (0.27) | 91,500 | (884) | 87,990 | (838) | 90,640 | (1,481) | 92,300 | (1,493) | 91,970 | (1,389) | 89,880 | (1,042) | |||||||||||||||||
School locale |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| City | 2.1 | (0.27) | 61.8 | (1.15) | 23.8 | (0.95) | 12.3 | (0.77) | --- | (†) | 7.3 | (0.17) | 7.0 | (0.25) | 6.8 | (0.21) | 6.4 | (0.17) | 6.4 | (0.14) | 11.1 | (0.14) | --- | (†) | 109,150 | (512) | 109,100 | (889) | 106,700 | (629) | 106,920 | (633) | 105,360 | (691) | |||||||||||||||||
| Suburban | 1.2 | (0.25) | 62.7 | (1.14) | 23.5 | (0.98) | 12.6 | (0.77) | --- | (†) | 7.9 | (0.23) | 7.7 | (0.28) | 7.3 | (0.21) | 6.6 | (0.16) | 6.8 | (0.15) | 11.0 | (0.14) | --- | (†) | 116,200 | (643) | 115,950 | (1,105) | 113,080 | (512) | 112,340 | (616) | 110,870 | (587) | |||||||||||||||||
| Town | 2.3 | (0.67) | 59.5 | (1.76) | 31.8 | (1.62) | 6.4 | (0.75) | --- | (†) | 8.1 | (0.28) | 7.8 | (0.34) | 7.3 | (0.24) | 6.6 | (0.22) | 7.1 | (0.24) | 11.8 | (0.23) | --- | (†) | 93,830 | (684) | 92,750 | (851) | 92,250 | (617) | 92,180 | (730) | 90,690 | (637) | |||||||||||||||||
| Rural | 2.1 | ! | (0.66) | 61.6 | (1.29) | 28.0 | (1.28) | 8.3 | (0.69) | --- | (†) | 7.9 | (0.22) | 7.5 | (0.27) | 7.3 | (0.15) | 6.6 | (0.18) | 7.0 | (0.17) | 11.8 | (0.18) | --- | (†) | 88,440 | (478) | 90,570 | (786) | 89,280 | (399) | 88,550 | (657) | 86,760 | (537) | ||||||||||||||||
| Private schools | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 30.8 | (1.52) | 50.6 | (1.47) | 10.8 | (0.66) | 7.9 | (0.68) | 8.8 | (0.20) | 10.0 | (0.24) | 10.0 | (0.22) | 10.8 | (0.31) | --- | (†) | 9.7 | (0.29) | 13.1 | (0.27) | $55,560 | (629) | $68,300 | (831) | $68,760 | (958) | $72,660 | (1,294) | --- | (†) | $73,990 | (1,014) | |||||||||||||||||
| Sex | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Males | 31.7 | (2.41) | 51.5 | (2.22) | 8.1 | (0.96) | 8.8 | (0.96) | 9.0 | (0.26) | 11.0 | (0.35) | 10.6 | (0.37) | 11.4 | (0.43) | --- | (†) | 9.7 | (0.50) | 11.9 | (0.47) | 61,660 | (978) | 75,390 | (1,365) | 75,320 | (1,615) | 82,260 | (2,752) | --- | (†) | 84,160 | (1,859) | |||||||||||||||||
| Females | 30.1 | (1.83) | 50.0 | (1.77) | 12.7 | (0.99) | 7.2 | (0.91) | 8.6 | (0.27) | 9.2 | (0.28) | 9.5 | (0.26) | 10.4 | (0.41) | --- | (†) | 9.6 | (0.35) | 14.0 | (0.39) | 50,550 | (1,053) | 62,960 | (1,147) | 63,400 | (1,152) | 65,770 | (1,400) | --- | (†) | 67,340 | (1,266) | |||||||||||||||||
Race/ethnicity |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| White | 30.8 | (1.62) | 51.6 | (1.64) | 10.6 | (0.69) | 7.0 | (0.69) | 8.7 | (0.22) | 10.3 | (0.24) | 10.4 | (0.25) | 10.9 | (0.31) | --- | (†) | 9.8 | (0.32) | 13.4 | (0.30) | 55,370 | (694) | 68,860 | (821) | 70,240 | (1,050) | 73,800 | (1,488) | --- | (†) | 75,330 | (1,062) | |||||||||||||||||
| Black | 21.3 | (6.07) | 41.2 | (5.91) | 13.5 | ! | (5.01) | 24.0 | (5.01) | 8.3 | (1.04) | 7.1 | (1.08) | 7.1 | (0.90) | 11.3 | (1.12) | --- | (†) | 8.3 | (1.14) | 11.5 | (1.49) | 59,560 | (4,289) | 60,310 | (4,711) | 59,090 | (2,571) | 64,960 | (5,282) | --- | (†) | 61,690 | (4,213) | ||||||||||||||||
| Hispanic | 34.7 | (4.56) | 42.4 | (4.80) | 16.2 | (3.73) | ‡ | (†) | 10.1 | (1.43) | 6.6 | (1.29) | 7.8 | (0.87) | 9.2 | (0.93) | --- | (†) | 8.6 | (0.93) | 11.2 | (0.96) | 54,300 | (3,391) | 65,340 | (5,362) | 57,620 | (3,942) | 68,980 | (6,677) | --- | (†) | 68,300 | (4,325) | |||||||||||||||||
Age |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Under 40 | 40.5 | (3.30) | 47.7 | (3.43) | 9.1 | (1.57) | 2.7 | (0.75) | 3.5 | (0.22) | 2.9 | (0.20) | 3.0 | (0.22) | 3.3 | (0.36) | --- | (†) | 2.8 | (0.21) | 6.7 | (0.30) | 45,570 | (1,505) | 55,700 | (2,153) | 55,830 | (1,656) | 54,540 | (2,046) | --- | (†) | 64,080 | (2,277) | |||||||||||||||||
| 40 to 44 | 21.7 | (3.51) | 61.2 | (3.54) | 11.0 | (2.45) | 6.2 | (1.48) | 5.3 | (0.24) | 5.4 | (0.38) | 5.3 | (0.35) | 5.9 | (0.56) | --- | (†) | 5.2 | (0.45) | 9.3 | (0.52) | 52,810 | (1,608) | 59,380 | (2,340) | 64,610 | (3,201) | 74,820 | (7,889) | --- | (†) | 78,230 | (3,116) | |||||||||||||||||
| 45 to 49 | 35.6 | (3.32) | 46.9 | (2.98) | 9.8 | (1.79) | 7.7 | (1.56) | 8.3 | (0.27) | 7.6 | (0.28) | 6.2 | (0.38) | 6.6 | (0.50) | --- | (†) | 6.7 | (0.42) | 11.5 | (0.55) | 60,000 | (1,275) | 70,300 | (1,996) | 64,900 | (2,464) | 73,900 | (4,178) | --- | (†) | 74,920 | (3,225) | |||||||||||||||||
| 50 to 54 | 28.0 | (3.61) | 54.7 | (3.52) | 10.5 | (1.96) | 6.7 | (1.35) | 9.6 | (0.34) | 10.1 | (0.35) | 9.0 | (0.45) | 9.7 | (0.59) | --- | (†) | 8.8 | (0.47) | 13.8 | (0.64) | 65,350 | (1,730) | 71,340 | (2,134) | 70,240 | (2,187) | 76,390 | (4,063) | --- | (†) | 80,790 | (2,927) | |||||||||||||||||
| 55 or over | 28.8 | (2.38) | 48.7 | (2.27) | 11.7 | (1.11) | 10.8 | (1.35) | 14.8 | (0.40) | 15.2 | (0.40) | 15.4 | (0.43) | 16.1 | (0.44) | --- | (†) | 14.8 | (0.48) | 16.9 | (0.47) | 55,050 | (1,311) | 73,490 | (1,509) | 75,200 | (1,715) | 76,300 | (2,110) | --- | (†) | 73,910 | (1,959) | |||||||||||||||||
School level |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elementary | 33.7 | (1.95) | 51.9 | (1.91) | 10.3 | (1.00) | 4.2 | (0.64) | 9.4 | (0.27) | 9.9 | (0.30) | 9.9 | (0.30) | 10.6 | (0.39) | --- | (†) | 9.5 | (0.41) | 12.6 | (0.42) | 49,850 | (770) | 64,310 | (916) | 66,340 | (1,160) | 67,270 | (1,292) | --- | (†) | 68,640 | (1,254) | |||||||||||||||||
| Secondary | 20.2 | (2.25) | 55.8 | (2.88) | 11.2 | (1.57) | 12.8 | (2.37) | 7.8 | (0.36) | 9.3 | (0.77) | 9.9 | (0.58) | 11.0 | (0.89) | --- | (†) | 9.0 | (0.52) | 14.2 | (0.61) | 75,660 | (1,358) | 88,470 | (3,529) | 89,850 | (2,838) | 94,460 | (7,720) | --- | (†) | 89,380 | (2,676) | |||||||||||||||||
| Combined | 30.8 | (2.73) | 45.7 | (2.52) | 11.5 | (1.37) | 12.1 | (1.38) | 8.0 | (0.34) | 10.3 | (0.39) | 10.2 | (0.44) | 11.2 | (0.57) | --- | (†) | 10.3 | (0.48) | 13.4 | (0.55) | 58,260 | (1,923) | 70,190 | (2,063) | 65,860 | (1,768) | 74,470 | (2,553) | --- | (†) | 75,520 | (2,400) | |||||||||||||||||
School locale |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| City | 22.6 | (1.68) | 56.2 | (2.19) | 11.2 | (1.17) | 10.0 | (1.46) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 10.8 | (0.38) | 11.0 | (0.53) | --- | (†) | 10.0 | (0.43) | 13.7 | (0.39) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 77,680 | (1,549) | 80,640 | (2,328) | --- | (†) | 84,470 | (1,992) | |||||||||||||||||
| Suburban | 26.9 | (1.96) | 52.4 | (2.06) | 12.8 | (1.22) | 7.9 | (0.91) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 10.5 | (0.36) | 11.8 | (0.49) | --- | (†) | 10.3 | (0.40) | 12.8 | (0.37) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 73,670 | (1,702) | 75,730 | (2,724) | --- | (†) | 78,200 | (1,516) | |||||||||||||||||
| Town | 26.1 | (5.31) | 55.3 | (5.51) | 14.2 | (3.33) | 4.4 | ! | (1.45) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 9.4 | (0.80) | 10.2 | (1.00) | --- | (†) | 10.4 | (1.36) | 15.7 | (1.08) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 52,960 | (2,572) | 50,190 | (2,551) | --- | (†) | 51,580 | (2,012) | ||||||||||||||||
| Rural | 51.1 | (4.31) | 37.3 | (3.86) | 5.7 | (1.43) | 5.9 | (1.26) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 8.1 | (0.53) | 9.7 | (0.76) | --- | (†) | 8.0 | (0.79) | 11.5 | (0.88) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 51,270 | (1,964) | 64,530 | (3,019) | --- | (†) | 56,390 | (2,372) | |||||||||||||||||
| ---Not available. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| †Not applicable. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| !Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ‡Reporting standards not met (too few cases for a reliable estimate). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Constant dollars based on the Consumer Price Index, prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, adjusted to a school-year basis. Excludes principals reporting a salary of $0. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 Education specialist degrees or certificates are generally awarded for 1 year's work beyond the master's level. Includes certificate of advanced graduate studies. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 Includes Pacific Islander for 1993-94. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding and cell suppression. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), "Public School Principal Data File" and "Private School Principal Data File," 1993-94, 2003-04, 2007-08, and 2011-12; National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS), “Public School Principal Data File,” 2015-16 and 2017-18; and NTPS, “Private School Principal Data File,” 2017-18. (This table was prepared November 2019.) |
