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| 2021 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 2020-21 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 specialist2 | 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) | $98,730 | (228) | $106,760 | (262) | $106,580 | (477) | $104,660 | (287) | $105,710 | (326) | $104,250 | (338) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 98,840 | (288) | 106,940 | (410) | 107,020 | (826) | 105,490 | (505) | 107,010 | (484) | 106,700 | (519) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 98,510 | (496) | 106,570 | (472) | 106,150 | (775) | 103,890 | (550) | 104,610 | (491) | 102,140 | (531) | |||||||||||||||||
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) | 98,020 | (248) | 106,170 | (313) | 105,450 | (546) | 104,000 | (369) | 104,730 | (366) | 103,320 | (388) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 103,790 | (818) | 109,400 | (941) | 109,180 | (1,611) | 106,890 | (1,320) | 107,650 | (1,204) | 105,080 | (1,254) | ||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 100,540 | (1,437) | 112,350 | (1,936) | 115,510 | (3,299) | 108,330 | (1,633) | 110,240 | (1,335) | 109,180 | (1,628) | ||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 106,990 | (2,565) | 116,860 | (2,364) | 128,580 | (8,289) | 118,570 | (4,927) | 122,050 | (3,298) | 130,280 | (3,195) | ||||||||||||||
| 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) | 92,000 | (3,121) | 87,680 | (3,008) | 95,250 | (4,098) | 93,130 | (4,335) | 101,550 | (6,569) | 90,060 | (4,018) | |||||||||||||||
| 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) | --- | (†) | 107,190 | (5,326) | 101,530 | (6,993) | 105,990 | (4,195) | 103,380 | (3,306) | 107,060 | (3,453) | ||||||||||||||||
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) | 83,760 | (852) | 97,310 | (770) | 98,810 | (1,126) | 99,180 | (808) | 97,220 | (812) | 95,910 | (813) | ||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 93,650 | (694) | 102,250 | (936) | 104,110 | (1,388) | 101,870 | (751) | 104,860 | (683) | 103,020 | (758) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 99,750 | (469) | 103,630 | (745) | 105,470 | (1,194) | 103,890 | (991) | 107,230 | (817) | 106,380 | (754) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 101,790 | (656) | 108,960 | (618) | 107,960 | (1,146) | 105,890 | (1,030) | 108,470 | (995) | 106,440 | (1,063) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 104,070 | (891) | 113,250 | (673) | 112,130 | (1,160) | 110,460 | (699) | 110,370 | (891) | 107,680 | (816) | |||||||||||||||||
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) | 97,480 | (303) | 106,620 | (318) | 105,950 | (608) | 103,580 | (350) | 105,120 | (424) | 103,670 | (414) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 101,870 | (301) | 112,230 | (624) | 112,200 | (874) | 111,370 | (706) | 111,550 | (803) | 110,630 | (675) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 95,070 | (919) | 91,430 | (870) | 94,180 | (1,539) | 95,900 | (1,552) | 95,560 | (1,443) | 93,390 | (1,083) | |||||||||||||||||
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) | --- | (†) | 113,400 | (532) | 113,360 | (924) | 110,870 | (654) | 111,090 | (658) | 109,470 | (718) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | --- | (†) | 120,730 | (668) | 120,480 | (1,148) | 117,490 | (532) | 116,720 | (640) | 115,190 | (610) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | --- | (†) | 97,490 | (711) | 96,360 | (884) | 95,850 | (641) | 95,770 | (759) | 94,230 | (661) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | --- | (†) | 91,890 | (497) | 94,100 | (817) | 92,760 | (415) | 92,010 | (683) | 90,140 | (558) | ||||||||||||||||
| 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) | $57,730 | (654) | $70,960 | (864) | $71,450 | (996) | $75,490 | (1,344) | --- | (†) | $76,870 | (1,053) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 64,060 | (1016) | 78,330 | (1,418) | 78,260 | (1,678) | 85,470 | (2,859) | --- | (†) | 87,440 | (1,932) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 52,530 | (1,094) | 65,420 | (1,192) | 65,870 | (1,197) | 68,340 | (1,455) | --- | (†) | 69,970 | (1,315) | |||||||||||||||||
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) | 57,540 | (721) | 71,550 | (853) | 72,980 | (1,091) | 76,680 | (1,546) | --- | (†) | 78,270 | (1,103) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 61,880 | (4,456) | 62,660 | (4,895) | 61,400 | (2,671) | 67,490 | (5,488) | --- | (†) | 64,100 | (4,377) | ||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 56,420 | (3,523) | 67,890 | (5,571) | 59,860 | (4,096) | 71,670 | (6,938) | --- | (†) | 70,970 | (4,494) | |||||||||||||||||
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) | 47,350 | (1,564) | 57,880 | (2,237) | 58,010 | (1,720) | 56,670 | (2,126) | --- | (†) | 66,580 | (2,366) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 54,870 | (1,670) | 61,700 | (2,431) | 67,130 | (3,326) | 77,740 | (8,196) | --- | (†) | 81,280 | (3,238) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 62,350 | (1,325) | 73,050 | (2,074) | 67,440 | (2,560) | 76,790 | (4,341) | --- | (†) | 77,840 | (3,351) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 67,900 | (1,797) | 74,120 | (2,217) | 72,980 | (2,273) | 79,370 | (4,221) | --- | (†) | 83,940 | (3,042) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 57,200 | (1,362) | 76,360 | (1,568) | 78,130 | (1,782) | 79,280 | (2,192) | --- | (†) | 76,800 | (2,035) | |||||||||||||||||
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) | 51,790 | (800) | 66,810 | (952) | 68,930 | (1,205) | 69,900 | (1,342) | --- | (†) | 71,320 | (1,303) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 78,620 | (1,411) | 91,930 | (3,666) | 93,350 | (2,948) | 98,140 | (8,021) | --- | (†) | 92,870 | (2,780) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | 60,530 | (1,998) | 72,930 | (2,144) | 68,430 | (1,837) | 77,380 | (2,653) | --- | (†) | 78,460 | (2,494) | |||||||||||||||||
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) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 80,710 | (1,609) | 83,780 | (2,419) | --- | (†) | 87,760 | (2,070) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 76,550 | (1,768) | 78,680 | (2,830) | --- | (†) | 81,250 | (1,575) | |||||||||||||||||
| 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) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 55,030 | (2,673) | 52,150 | (2,651) | --- | (†) | 53,590 | (2,091) | ||||||||||||||||
| 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) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 53,270 | (2,041) | 67,040 | (3,137) | --- | (†) | 58,590 | (2,464) | |||||||||||||||||
| ---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. Some data have been revised from previously published figures. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 August 2021.) |
