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| 2022 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 school years, 2007-08 through 2020-21 |
| [Standard errors appear in parentheses] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected characteristic |
Percentage distribution by highest degree earned, 2020-21 |
Average years of experience | Average annual salary in constant 2021-22 dollars1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As a principal | Prior teaching experience, 2020-21 |
2007-08 | 2011-12 | 2015-16 | 2017-18 | 2020-21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bachelor's or less |
Master's | Education special- ist2 |
Doctor's and first- professional |
2007-08 | 2011-12 | 2015-16 | 2017-18 | 2020-21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Public schools | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 2.0 | (0.20) | 61.9 | (0.60) | 25.0 | (0.54) | 11.0 | (0.44) | 7.5 | (0.14) | 7.2 | (0.09) | 6.6 | (0.09) | 6.8 | (0.09) | 6.9 | (0.08) | 11.9 | (0.08) | $114,230 | (511) | $112,170 | (308) | $113,290 | (350) | $111,730 | (363) | $113,470 | (299) | |||||||||||||||
| Sex | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Males | 1.8 | (0.34) | 64.1 | (0.87) | 23.5 | (0.83) | 10.5 | (0.55) | 8.2 | (0.20) | 7.7 | (0.12) | 7.0 | (0.13) | 7.3 | (0.12) | 7.6 | (0.13) | 10.7 | (0.12) | 114,700 | (885) | 113,060 | (542) | 114,680 | (519) | 114,350 | (556) | 115,510 | (507) | |||||||||||||||
| Females | 2.1 | (0.25) | 60.2 | (0.85) | 26.2 | (0.78) | 11.4 | (0.63) | 6.8 | (0.19) | 6.6 | (0.15) | 6.2 | (0.12) | 6.3 | (0.11) | 6.3 | (0.11) | 12.9 | (0.11) | 113,760 | (831) | 111,340 | (590) | 112,120 | (526) | 109,460 | (569) | 111,870 | (531) | |||||||||||||||
Race/ethnicity |
(000) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| White | 1.9 | (0.24) | 61.7 | (0.65) | 26.2 | (0.65) | 10.1 | (0.49) | 7.8 | (0.17) | 7.3 | (0.10) | 6.8 | (0.11) | 7.0 | (0.10) | 7.0 | (0.09) | 12.1 | (0.09) | 113,020 | (585) | 111,460 | (395) | 112,240 | (392) | 110,730 | (416) | 112,520 | (387) | |||||||||||||||
| Black | 0.8 | ! | (0.26) | 50.4 | (2.11) | 29.6 | (2.03) | 19.3 | (1.77) | 6.2 | (0.38) | 6.2 | (0.30) | 6.0 | (0.23) | 6.0 | (0.23) | 6.7 | (0.26) | 11.4 | (0.27) | 117,020 | (1,726) | 114,550 | (1,415) | 115,380 | (1,290) | 112,620 | (1,344) | 114,970 | (1221) | ||||||||||||||
| Hispanic | 2.9 | (0.81) | 74.3 | (2.15) | 12.9 | (1.62) | 9.9 | (1.62) | 6.5 | (0.62) | 6.1 | (0.42) | 5.5 | (0.28) | 6.0 | (0.24) | 6.4 | (0.28) | 11.0 | (0.27) | 123,800 | (3,535) | 116,100 | (1,750) | 118,150 | (1,431) | 117,010 | (1,744) | 117,600 | (1380) | |||||||||||||||
| Asian | 6.8 | ! | (3.23) | 73.9 | (5.94) | 17.5 | ! | (5.51) | ‡ | (†) | 6.3 | (0.97) | 7.7 | (1.13) | 6.5 | (0.90) | 5.4 | (0.71) | 5.9 | (0.65) | 10.6 | (0.81) | 137,800 | (8,884) | 127,080 | (5,281) | 130,800 | (3,535) | 139,620 | (3,424) | 140,010 | (3869) | |||||||||||||
| Pacific Islander | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | |||||||||||||||
| American Indian/ Alaska Native |
‡ | (†) | 68.5 | (7.53) | 19.7 | ! | (6.95) | 6.7 | ! | (3.11) | 6.4 | (1.30) | 9.2 | (1.67) | 8.2 | (1.06) | 7.2 | (1.03) | 7.2 | (0.92) | 12.1 | (1.04) | 102,080 | (4,392) | 99,810 | (4,646) | 108,840 | (7,040) | 96,520 | (4,306) | 94,260 | (3,263) | |||||||||||||
| Two or more races | ‡ | (†) | 65.9 | (5.34) | 17.5 | (4.12) | 13.4 | (3.87) | 5.8 | (1.50) | 7.8 | (0.77) | 5.1 | (0.64) | 6.8 | (0.87) | 7.7 | (1.00) | 13.8 | (0.84) | 108,810 | (7,494) | 113,590 | (4,496) | 110,790 | (3,543) | 114,740 | (3,701) | 112,780 | (3,521) | |||||||||||||||
Age |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Under 40 | 3.0 | (0.63) | 68.0 | (1.76) | 19.5 | (1.38) | 9.6 | (1.13) | 2.9 | (0.14) | 3.0 | (0.10) | 2.5 | (0.07) | 2.7 | (0.08) | 2.9 | (0.09) | 8.1 | (0.13) | 105,900 | (1,206) | 106,290 | (866) | 104,200 | (870) | 102,790 | (871) | 102,720 | (972) | |||||||||||||||
| 40 to 44 | 1.7 | (0.37) | 63.1 | (1.41) | 23.7 | (1.19) | 11.5 | (0.99) | 4.8 | (0.22) | 4.8 | (0.13) | 4.5 | (0.11) | 4.5 | (0.13) | 4.5 | (0.11) | 10.3 | (0.14) | 111,580 | (1,488) | 109,180 | (804) | 112,380 | (732) | 110,410 | (812) | 112,210 | (771) | |||||||||||||||
| 45 to 49 | 1.1 | (0.27) | 60.5 | (1.38) | 27.5 | (1.24) | 11.0 | (0.82) | 6.1 | (0.26) | 6.5 | (0.18) | 6.4 | (0.15) | 6.6 | (0.15) | 6.3 | (0.14) | 11.7 | (0.14) | 113,040 | (1,280) | 111,340 | (1,062) | 114,920 | (875) | 114,010 | (809) | 113,610 | (801) | |||||||||||||||
| 50 to 54 | 1.9 | (0.46) | 60.1 | (1.46) | 26.8 | (1.40) | 11.3 | (0.97) | 8.2 | (0.28) | 8.1 | (0.24) | 7.9 | (0.23) | 8.1 | (0.19) | 8.2 | (0.18) | 13.0 | (0.19) | 115,700 | (1,228) | 113,490 | (1,104) | 116,250 | (1,067) | 114,080 | (1,139) | 117,480 | (951) | |||||||||||||||
| 55 or over | 2.7 | (0.59) | 60.6 | (1.30) | 25.3 | (1.20) | 11.4 | (0.98) | 11.8 | (0.29) | 11.8 | (0.22) | 11.2 | (0.25) | 11.1 | (0.22) | 10.9 | (0.21) | 14.8 | (0.21) | 120,170 | (1,243) | 118,380 | (750) | 118,280 | (954) | 115,400 | (875) | 117,230 | (981) | |||||||||||||||
School level |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elementary | 2.1 | (0.30) | 62.2 | (0.93) | 25.0 | (0.83) | 10.8 | (0.66) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 7.0 | (0.12) | 12.2 | (0.11) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 111,370 | (440) | |||||||||||||||
| Middle | 0.7 | ! | (0.23) | 62.0 | (1.44) | 25.4 | (1.18) | 11.8 | (0.99) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 6.7 | (0.16) | 11.2 | (0.19) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 116,540 | (641) | ||||||||||||||
| Secondary/high | 2.0 | (0.38) | 62.5 | (1.15) | 23.4 | (1.01) | 12.0 | (0.87) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 6.9 | (0.18) | 11.6 | (0.18) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 119,120 | (786) | |||||||||||||||
| Combined/other | 3.9 | (1.06) | 58.8 | (2.15) | 28.7 | (2.03) | 8.6 | (1.24) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 6.8 | (0.23) | 12.4 | (0.28) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 105,920 | (1,492) | |||||||||||||||
School locale |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| City | 2.3 | (0.28) | 63.2 | (1.17) | 20.9 | (1.02) | 13.6 | (0.87) | 7.0 | (0.25) | 6.8 | (0.21) | 6.4 | (0.17) | 6.4 | (0.14) | 7.0 | (0.15) | 11.5 | (0.14) | 121,490 | (990) | 118,820 | (701) | 119,060 | (705) | 117,320 | (769) | 120,620 | (619) | |||||||||||||||
| Suburban | 1.7 | (0.41) | 61.2 | (1.08) | 24.0 | (0.95) | 13.1 | (0.81) | 7.7 | (0.28) | 7.3 | (0.21) | 6.6 | (0.16) | 6.8 | (0.15) | 6.9 | (0.14) | 11.7 | (0.14) | 129,120 | (1,230) | 125,920 | (570) | 125,090 | (686) | 123,460 | (653) | 125,170 | (597) | |||||||||||||||
| Town | 2.2 | ! | (0.67) | 62.3 | (1.86) | 29.7 | (1.68) | 5.7 | (0.77) | 7.8 | (0.34) | 7.3 | (0.24) | 6.6 | (0.22) | 7.1 | (0.24) | 7.0 | (0.23) | 12.1 | (0.21) | 103,280 | (947) | 102,720 | (687) | 102,640 | (813) | 100,980 | (709) | 102,290 | (762) | ||||||||||||||
| Rural | 2.0 | (0.39) | 61.3 | (1.22) | 28.3 | (1.16) | 8.5 | (0.82) | 7.5 | (0.27) | 7.3 | (0.15) | 6.6 | (0.18) | 7.0 | (0.17) | 6.8 | (0.18) | 12.7 | (0.19) | 100,850 | (875) | 99,420 | (445) | 98,610 | (732) | 96,610 | (598) | 97,190 | (694) | |||||||||||||||
Private schools |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 28.2 | (1.29) | 51.6 | (1.36) | 11.0 | (0.86) | 9.3 | (0.82) | 10.0 | (0.22) | 10.8 | (0.31) | --- | (†) | 9.7 | (0.29) | 9.0 | (0.27) | 14.8 | (0.34) | $71,450 | (996) | $75,490 | (1,344) | --- | (†) | $76,870 | (1,053) | $84,280 | (1,569) | |||||||||||||||
| Sex | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Males | 26.3 | (2.40) | 53.0 | (2.45) | 8.7 | (1.19) | 12.1 | (1.46) | 10.6 | (0.37) | 11.4 | (0.43) | --- | (†) | 9.7 | (0.50) | 9.2 | (0.45) | 13.5 | (0.50) | 78,260 | (1,678) | 85,470 | (2,859) | --- | (†) | 87,440 | (1,932) | 94,220 | (3,678) | |||||||||||||||
| Females | 29.3 | (1.69) | 50.8 | (1.77) | 12.3 | (1.21) | 7.6 | (0.94) | 9.5 | (0.26) | 10.4 | (0.41) | --- | (†) | 9.6 | (0.35) | 8.9 | (0.33) | 15.6 | (0.42) | 65,870 | (1,197) | 68,340 | (1,455) | --- | (†) | 69,970 | (1,315) | 78,690 | (1,410) | |||||||||||||||
Race/ethnicity |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| White | 27.8 | (1.40) | 51.9 | (1.51) | 11.4 | (0.97) | 8.8 | (0.86) | 10.4 | (0.25) | 10.9 | (0.31) | --- | (†) | 9.8 | (0.32) | 9.2 | (0.32) | 15.1 | (0.38) | 72,980 | (1,091) | 76,680 | (1,546) | --- | (†) | 78,270 | (1,103) | 85,830 | (1,807) | |||||||||||||||
| Black | 27.2 | (7.17) | 37.3 | (5.61) | 12.1 | ! | (3.87) | 23.5 | (5.84) | 7.1 | (0.90) | 11.3 | (1.12) | --- | (†) | 8.3 | (1.14) | 8.8 | (0.92) | 13.7 | (1.54) | 61,400 | (2,671) | 67,490 | (5,488) | --- | (†) | 64,100 | (4,377) | 77,120 | (5,059) | ||||||||||||||
| Hispanic | 32.5 | (5.62) | 55.8 | (5.46) | 7.0 | ! | (2.45) | 4.8 | ! | (1.64) | 7.8 | (0.87) | 9.2 | (0.93) | --- | (†) | 8.6 | (0.93) | 7.1 | (0.77) | 13.0 | (0.98) | 59,860 | (4,096) | 71,670 | (6,938) | --- | (†) | 70,970 | (4,494) | 71,600 | (3,708) | |||||||||||||
| Asian | 37.5 | (10.19) | 57.1 | (10.10) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | --- | (†) | 11.0 | (1.53) | 8.5 | (1.28) | 12.7 | (2.02) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | --- | (†) | 75,920 | (6,915) | 79,970 | (6,889) | |||||||||||||||
| Pacific Islander | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | --- | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | --- | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | |||||||||||||||
| American Indian/ Alaska Native |
‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | --- | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | --- | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | |||||||||||||||
| Two or more races | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | 9.4 | ! | (2.90) | --- | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | 67,870 | (10,571) | --- | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ||||||||||||||
Age |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Under 40 | 36.6 | (4.43) | 50.7 | (4.27) | 8.9 | (1.99) | 3.8 | ! | (1.19) | 3.0 | (0.22) | 3.3 | (0.36) | --- | (†) | 2.8 | (0.21) | 3.7 | (0.49) | 8.0 | (0.48) | 58,010 | (1,720) | 56,670 | (2,126) | --- | (†) | 66,580 | (2,366) | 69,150 | (2,946) | ||||||||||||||
| 40 to 44 | 29.4 | (4.24) | 54.5 | (3.94) | 10.9 | (2.25) | 5.2 | (1.27) | 5.3 | (0.35) | 5.9 | (0.56) | --- | (†) | 5.2 | (0.45) | 4.6 | (0.43) | 11.0 | (0.87) | 67,130 | (3,326) | 77,740 | (8,196) | --- | (†) | 81,280 | (3,238) | 80,820 | (3,075) | |||||||||||||||
| 45 to 49 | 25.1 | (3.74) | 52.6 | (3.87) | 10.4 | (2.25) | 11.9 | (2.28) | 6.2 | (0.38) | 6.6 | (0.50) | --- | (†) | 6.7 | (0.42) | 7.2 | (0.49) | 14.0 | (0.64) | 67,440 | (2,560) | 76,790 | (4,341) | --- | (†) | 77,840 | (3,351) | 87,250 | (3,454) | |||||||||||||||
| 50 to 54 | 26.0 | (3.43) | 51.9 | (3.43) | 10.3 | (2.06) | 11.8 | (2.41) | 9.0 | (0.45) | 9.7 | (0.59) | --- | (†) | 8.8 | (0.47) | 8.1 | (0.42) | 15.3 | (0.70) | 72,980 | (2,273) | 79,370 | (4,221) | --- | (†) | 83,940 | (3,042) | 92,620 | (7,218) | |||||||||||||||
| 55 or over | 26.6 | (2.01) | 50.2 | (2.30) | 12.2 | (1.55) | 11.0 | (1.43) | 15.4 | (0.43) | 16.1 | (0.44) | --- | (†) | 14.8 | (0.48) | 13.7 | (0.52) | 19.0 | (0.63) | 78,130 | (1,782) | 79,280 | (2,192) | --- | (†) | 76,800 | (2,035) | 86,660 | (2,396) | |||||||||||||||
School level |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elementary/middle | 34.4 | (4.03) | 50.3 | (4.21) | 9.6 | (2.28) | 5.6 | ! | (1.97) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 8.8 | (0.80) | 15.4 | (0.91) | 68,930 | (1,205) | 69,900 | (1,342) | --- | (†) | 71,320 | (1,303) | 70,110 | (2,853) | ||||||||||||||
| Secondary/high | 10.1 | (1.98) | 60.7 | (2.73) | 16.8 | (2.34) | 12.4 | (1.50) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 9.0 | (0.37) | 15.2 | (0.53) | 93,350 | (2,948) | 98,140 | (8,021) | --- | (†) | 92,870 | (2,780) | 119,520 | (3,888) | |||||||||||||||
| Combined/other | 29.5 | (1.72) | 50.4 | (1.71) | 10.4 | (0.98) | 9.8 | (1.03) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 9.0 | (0.32) | 14.6 | (0.40) | 68,430 | (1,837) | 77,380 | (2,653) | --- | (†) | 78,460 | (2,494) | 82,160 | (2,101) | |||||||||||||||
School locale |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| City | 20.4 | (1.84) | 59.0 | (2.25) | 11.3 | (1.55) | 9.2 | (1.22) | 10.8 | (0.38) | 11.0 | (0.53) | --- | (†) | 10.0 | (0.43) | 9.7 | (0.46) | 15.5 | (0.54) | 80,710 | (1,609) | 83,780 | (2,419) | --- | (†) | 87,760 | (2,070) | 93,290 | (2,175) | |||||||||||||||
| Suburban | 24.2 | (2.24) | 52.1 | (2.29) | 12.5 | (1.60) | 11.2 | (1.35) | 10.5 | (0.36) | 11.8 | (0.49) | --- | (†) | 10.3 | (0.40) | 9.4 | (0.42) | 14.1 | (0.44) | 76,550 | (1,768) | 78,680 | (2,830) | --- | (†) | 81,250 | (1,575) | 90,710 | (2,158) | |||||||||||||||
| Town | 32.2 | (5.08) | 49.1 | (4.34) | 11.9 | (3.01) | 6.9 | ! | (2.78) | 9.4 | (0.80) | 10.2 | (1.00) | --- | (†) | 10.4 | (1.36) | 8.6 | (0.83) | 16.0 | (0.99) | 55,030 | (2,673) | 52,150 | (2,651) | --- | (†) | 53,590 | (2,091) | 60,510 | (2,591) | ||||||||||||||
| Rural | 44.1 | (3.57) | 40.8 | (3.48) | 7.7 | (1.88) | 7.4 | (1.80) | 8.1 | (0.53) | 9.7 | (0.76) | --- | (†) | 8.0 | (0.79) | 7.6 | (0.74) | 14.4 | (1.00) | 53,270 | (2,041) | 67,040 | (3,137) | --- | (†) | 58,590 | (2,464) | 68,140 | (5,575) | |||||||||||||||
| ---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). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1Constant 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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2Education specialist degrees or certificates are generally awarded for 1 year's work beyond the master's level. Includes certificate of advanced graduate studies. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. 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," 2007-08 and 2011-12; National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS), "Public School Principal Data File," 2015-16, 2017-18, and 2020-21; and NTPS, "Private School Principal Data File," 2017-18 and 2020-21. (This table was prepared September 2022.) |
