Elementary Principal vs Elementary Teacher
In 2025, the median salary for Elementary Principal was $48,931 (41.4%) higher than for Elementary Teacher: $166,982 against $118,051. Elementary Principal had 2,142 people on the list, Elementary Teacher 35,892.
At a glance
| Elementary Principal | Elementary Teacher | |
|---|---|---|
| People on the 2025 list | 2,142 | 35,892 |
| Median salary | $166,982 | $118,051 |
| Middle half | $161,338–$173,982 | $116,063–$127,652 |
| Highest salary | $210,425 | $256,899 |
| Total salaries | $351,631,247 | $4,296,440,080 |
| People, change | −4.1% vs 2024 | −2.4% vs 2024 |
| Median, change | +6.7% vs 2024 | −4.7% vs 2024 |
Median salary by year
Show as a table
| Year | Elementary Principal | Elementary Teacher |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | $110,044 | |
| 2004 | $100,774 | $123,714 |
| 2005 | $101,918 | $112,971 |
| 2006 | $102,888 | $109,685 |
| 2007 | $104,690 | $116,491 |
| 2008 | $106,184 | $107,820 |
| 2009 | $110,817 | $105,545 |
| 2010 | $112,855 | $108,185 |
| 2011 | $116,121 | $103,242 |
| 2012 | $117,691 | $103,859 |
| 2013 | $117,790 | $102,949 |
| 2014 | $117,691 | $102,793 |
| 2015 | $119,520 | $101,987 |
| 2016 | $120,604 | $105,669 |
| 2017 | $119,582 | $102,394 |
| 2018 | $123,498 | $101,568 |
| 2019 | $124,689 | $101,017 |
| 2020 | $127,653 | $102,133 |
| 2021 | $125,159 | $102,413 |
| 2022 | $129,549 | $103,067 |
| 2023 | $128,810 | $102,977 |
| 2024 | $156,552 | $123,819 |
| 2025 | $166,982 | $118,051 |
People on the list by year
Show as a table
| Year | Elementary Principal | Elementary Teacher |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 8 | |
| 2004 | 43 | 10 |
| 2005 | 536 | 11 |
| 2006 | 720 | 19 |
| 2007 | 1,068 | 16 |
| 2008 | 1,535 | 43 |
| 2009 | 1,955 | 50 |
| 2010 | 1,724 | 89 |
| 2011 | 1,668 | 136 |
| 2012 | 1,664 | 152 |
| 2013 | 2,042 | 194 |
| 2014 | 2,033 | 240 |
| 2015 | 2,034 | 742 |
| 2016 | 1,926 | 1,557 |
| 2017 | 1,656 | 601 |
| 2018 | 2,213 | 1,733 |
| 2019 | 2,262 | 3,719 |
| 2020 | 1,867 | 6,586 |
| 2021 | 1,867 | 20,746 |
| 2022 | 1,819 | 19,816 |
| 2023 | 2,203 | 22,410 |
| 2024 | 2,233 | 36,792 |
| 2025 | 2,142 | 35,892 |
Highest paid in 2025
Elementary Principal
| # | Name | Employer | Salary | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheena Paul | Durham Catholic District School Board | $210,425 | $1,401 |
| 2 | Beatrice Chen | Toronto District School Board | $205,839 | $0 |
| 3 | Ahmed Omar | Toronto District School Board | $199,717 | $0 |
| 4 | Melissa Murray | York Region District School Board | $199,182 | $0 |
| 5 | Heather Van De Glind | Upper Canada District School Board | $196,055 | $0 |
Elementary Teacher
| # | Name | Employer | Salary | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gorian Surlan | Toronto District School Board | $256,899 | $0 |
| 2 | David Mastin | Durham District School Board | $210,367 | $0 |
| 3 | Karen Brown | Toronto District School Board | $209,550 | $0 |
| 4 | Heather Dodgson | Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board | $206,233 | $0 |
| 5 | Ritch Couper | Toronto District School Board | $201,195 | $0 |
More comparisons
Questions and answers
Which pays more, Elementary Principal or Elementary Teacher?
By median salary in 2025, Elementary Principal: $166,982 against $118,051.
Which has more people on the list?
Elementary Teacher: 35,892 against 2,142 in 2025.
How has the gap changed since 2004?
In 2004 the median for Elementary Principal was $100,774 and for Elementary Teacher $123,714, a gap of $22,940; in 2025 the gap was $48,931.
What do these figures cover?
Only people paid $100,000 or more are on the list, so medians and counts describe them, not everyone with each title.
What does “salary paid” include?
What the employer paid in the calendar year, so it can include overtime, retroactive pay, vacation payouts, severance or a partial year. Taxable benefits are listed separately. How the lists work