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Elementary Principal vs Principal
In 2025, the median salary for Principal was $457 (0.3%) higher than for Elementary Principal: $167,439 against $166,982. Elementary Principal had 2,142 people on the list, Principal 1,593.
At a glance
| Elementary Principal | Principal | |
|---|---|---|
| People on the 2025 list | 2,142 | 1,593 |
| Median salary | $166,982 | $167,439 |
| Middle half | $161,338–$173,982 | $164,569–$176,072 |
| Highest salary | $210,425 | $209,322 |
| Total salaries | $351,631,247 | $264,683,158 |
| People, change | −4.1% vs 2024 | +1.1% vs 2024 |
| Median, change | +6.7% vs 2024 | +7.4% vs 2024 |
Median salary by year
Elementary PrincipalPrincipal
Show as a table
| Year | Elementary Principal | Principal |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | $104,676 | |
| 2001 | $101,937 | |
| 2002 | $103,751 | |
| 2003 | $110,044 | $100,964 |
| 2004 | $100,774 | $102,596 |
| 2005 | $101,918 | $104,159 |
| 2006 | $102,888 | $103,861 |
| 2007 | $104,690 | $105,181 |
| 2008 | $106,184 | $106,897 |
| 2009 | $110,817 | $110,662 |
| 2010 | $112,855 | $113,835 |
| 2011 | $116,121 | $116,138 |
| 2012 | $117,691 | $117,389 |
| 2013 | $117,790 | $118,382 |
| 2014 | $117,691 | $119,082 |
| 2015 | $119,520 | $120,086 |
| 2016 | $120,604 | $123,444 |
| 2017 | $119,582 | $120,979 |
| 2018 | $123,498 | $123,045 |
| 2019 | $124,689 | $126,295 |
| 2020 | $127,653 | $128,754 |
| 2021 | $125,159 | $127,752 |
| 2022 | $129,549 | $130,730 |
| 2023 | $128,810 | $130,351 |
| 2024 | $156,552 | $155,966 |
| 2025 | $166,982 | $167,439 |
People on the list by year
Elementary PrincipalPrincipal
Show as a table
| Year | Elementary Principal | Principal |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 8 | |
| 2001 | 7 | |
| 2002 | 10 | |
| 2003 | 8 | 110 |
| 2004 | 43 | 584 |
| 2005 | 536 | 591 |
| 2006 | 720 | 725 |
| 2007 | 1,068 | 997 |
| 2008 | 1,535 | 1,468 |
| 2009 | 1,955 | 1,346 |
| 2010 | 1,724 | 1,347 |
| 2011 | 1,668 | 1,389 |
| 2012 | 1,664 | 1,348 |
| 2013 | 2,042 | 1,303 |
| 2014 | 2,033 | 1,346 |
| 2015 | 2,034 | 1,310 |
| 2016 | 1,926 | 1,376 |
| 2017 | 1,656 | 1,311 |
| 2018 | 2,213 | 1,262 |
| 2019 | 2,262 | 1,159 |
| 2020 | 1,867 | 1,222 |
| 2021 | 1,867 | 1,223 |
| 2022 | 1,819 | 1,241 |
| 2023 | 2,203 | 1,318 |
| 2024 | 2,233 | 1,575 |
| 2025 | 2,142 | 1,593 |
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 |
Principal
| # | Name | Employer | Salary | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renee Shave | Thames Valley District School Board | $209,322 | $1,200 |
| 2 | Laurie Kavanagh | Ottawa-Carleton District School Board | $201,145 | $0 |
| 3 | Jennifer Prichett | Ottawa Catholic School Board | $198,911 | $102 |
| 4 | Sara Tielli Mitchell | Peel District School Board | $198,812 | $2,025 |
| 5 | Margarita Ziroldo | Ottawa Catholic School Board | $197,611 | $102 |
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Questions and answers
Which pays more, Elementary Principal or Principal?
By median salary in 2025, Principal: $167,439 against $166,982.
Which has more people on the list?
Elementary Principal: 2,142 against 1,593 in 2025.
How has the gap changed since 2003?
In 2003 the median for Elementary Principal was $110,044 and for Principal $100,964, a gap of $9,080; in 2025 the gap was $457.
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