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Elementary Principal vs Vice Principal

In 2025, the median salary for Elementary Principal was $14,458 (9.5%) higher than for Vice Principal: $166,982 against $152,523. Elementary Principal had 2,142 people on the list, Vice Principal 1,046.

At a glance

Elementary PrincipalVice Principal
People on the 2025 list2,1421,046
Median salary$166,982$152,523
Middle half$161,338–$173,982$145,241–$159,327
Highest salary$210,425$200,185
Total salaries$351,631,247$156,988,578
People, change−4.1% vs 2024+2.1% vs 2024
Median, change+6.7% vs 2024+6.1% vs 2024

Median salary by year

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YearElementary PrincipalVice Principal
2003$110,044$106,392
2004$100,774$107,689
2005$101,918$104,891
2006$102,888$102,665
2007$104,690$102,288
2008$106,184$101,761
2009$110,817$104,590
2010$112,855$105,937
2011$116,121$107,459
2012$117,691$107,963
2013$117,790$108,400
2014$117,691$109,105
2015$119,520$111,348
2016$120,604$110,415
2017$119,582$109,926
2018$123,498$111,554
2019$124,689$113,576
2020$127,653$117,023
2021$125,159$115,833
2022$129,549$118,091
2023$128,810$117,350
2024$156,552$143,801
2025$166,982$152,523

People on the list by year

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YearElementary PrincipalVice Principal
200385
20044314
200553611
200672020
20071,06867
20081,535276
20091,955388
20101,724618
20111,668636
20121,664725
20132,042708
20142,033724
20152,034721
20161,926823
20171,656809
20182,213768
20192,262771
20201,867760
20211,867794
20221,819784
20232,203839
20242,2331,024
20252,1421,046

Highest paid in 2025

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Questions and answers

Which pays more, Elementary Principal or Vice Principal?

By median salary in 2025, Elementary Principal: $166,982 against $152,523.

Which has more people on the list?

Elementary Principal: 2,142 against 1,046 in 2025.

How has the gap changed since 2003?

In 2003 the median for Elementary Principal was $110,044 and for Vice Principal $106,392, a gap of $3,652; in 2025 the gap was $14,458.

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