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Elementary Principal vs Secondary Vice Principal

In 2025, the median salary for Elementary Principal was $12,348 (8.0%) higher than for Secondary Vice Principal: $166,982 against $154,634. Elementary Principal had 2,142 people on the list, Secondary Vice Principal 792.

At a glance

Elementary PrincipalSecondary Vice Principal
People on the 2025 list2,142792
Median salary$166,982$154,634
Middle half$161,338–$173,982$146,763–$160,632
Highest salary$210,425$196,047
Total salaries$351,631,247$120,533,815
People, change−4.1% vs 2024−2.2% vs 2024
Median, change+6.7% vs 2024+4.6% vs 2024

Median salary by year

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YearElementary PrincipalSecondary Vice Principal
2003$110,044
2004$100,774
2005$101,918$108,840
2006$102,888$106,531
2007$104,690$102,935
2008$106,184$101,126
2009$110,817$104,708
2010$112,855$106,007
2011$116,121$108,932
2012$117,691$110,435
2013$117,790$111,012
2014$117,691$110,519
2015$119,520$112,155
2016$120,604$113,045
2017$119,582$113,694
2018$123,498$116,282
2019$124,689$117,596
2020$127,653$119,898
2021$125,159$118,599
2022$129,549$122,768
2023$128,810$121,029
2024$156,552$147,793
2025$166,982$154,634

People on the list by year

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YearElementary PrincipalSecondary Vice Principal
20038
200443
20055368
200672017
20071,06827
20081,535139
20091,955545
20101,724537
20111,668586
20121,664594
20132,042619
20142,033672
20152,034710
20161,926666
20171,656563
20182,213774
20192,262789
20201,867601
20211,867636
20221,819618
20232,203763
20242,233810
20252,142792

Highest paid in 2025

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Questions and answers

Which pays more, Elementary Principal or Secondary Vice Principal?

By median salary in 2025, Elementary Principal: $166,982 against $154,634.

Which has more people on the list?

Elementary Principal: 2,142 against 792 in 2025.

How has the gap changed since 2005?

In 2005 the median for Elementary Principal was $101,918 and for Secondary Vice Principal $108,840, a gap of $6,922; in 2025 the gap was $12,348.

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