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Elementary Principal vs Teacher/Elementary

In 2025, the median salary for Elementary Principal was $50,494 (43.3%) higher than for Teacher/Elementary: $166,982 against $116,487. Elementary Principal had 2,142 people on the list, Teacher/Elementary 2,457.

At a glance

Elementary PrincipalTeacher/Elementary
People on the 2025 list2,1422,457
Median salary$166,982$116,487
Middle half$161,338–$173,982$113,470–$116,959
Highest salary$210,425$165,131
Total salaries$351,631,247$282,209,685
People, change−4.1% vs 2024−9.6% vs 2024
Median, change+6.7% vs 2024−11.8% vs 2024

Median salary by year

Show as a table
YearElementary PrincipalTeacher/Elementary
2003$110,044
2004$100,774
2005$101,918
2006$102,888
2007$104,690
2008$106,184
2009$110,817$105,178
2010$112,855$103,517
2011$116,121$103,351
2012$117,691$102,116
2013$117,790$101,548
2014$117,691$103,549
2015$119,520$103,580
2016$120,604$106,558
2017$119,582$101,738
2018$123,498$103,169
2019$124,689$100,176
2020$127,653$100,738
2021$125,159$102,397
2022$129,549$101,743
2023$128,810$103,015
2024$156,552$132,119
2025$166,982$116,487

People on the list by year

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YearElementary PrincipalTeacher/Elementary
20038
200443
2005536
2006720
20071,068
20081,535
20091,9555
20101,7249
20111,66821
20121,66460
20132,04243
20142,0338
20152,0348
20161,92682
20171,656214
20182,21323
20192,262129
20201,8671,587
20211,8676,346
20221,8196,040
20232,2031,578
20242,2332,719
20252,1422,457

Highest paid in 2025

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Questions and answers

Which pays more, Elementary Principal or Teacher/Elementary?

By median salary in 2025, Elementary Principal: $166,982 against $116,487.

Which has more people on the list?

Teacher/Elementary: 2,457 against 2,142 in 2025.

How has the gap changed since 2009?

In 2009 the median for Elementary Principal was $110,817 and for Teacher/Elementary $105,178, a gap of $5,639; in 2025 the gap was $50,494.

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