What Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals Do
Elementary, middle, and high school principals oversee all school operations, including daily school activities.
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Work Environment
Principals work in public and private elementary, middle, and high schools. Typically, principals work year round.
How to Become an Elementary, Middle, or High School Principal
Principals typically need a master’s degree in education administration or leadership. In addition, they need teaching experience.
Pay
The median annual wage for elementary, middle, and high school principals was $96,400 in May 2019.
Job Outlook
Employment of elementary, middle, and high school principals is projected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Employment growth will be affected by student enrollment and the number of educational institutions.
Elementary, middle, and high school principals oversee all school operations, including daily school activities. They coordinate curriculums, manage staff, and provide a safe and productive learning environment for students.
Duties
Elementary, middle, and high school principals typically do the following:
- Manage school activities and staff, including teachers and support personnel
- Establish and oversee class schedules
- Develop, implement, and maintain curriculum standards
- Counsel and discipline students
- Observe teachers and evaluate their performance
- Meet with parents and teachers to discuss students’ progress and behavior
- Assess and prepare reports on test scores and other student achievement data
- Organize professional development programs and workshops for staff
- Manage the school’s budget, order school supplies, and schedule maintenance
- Establish and coordinate security procedures for students, staff, and visitors
Elementary, middle, and high school principals direct the overall operation of schools. They set and oversee academic goals and ensure that teachers have the equipment and resources to meet those goals. Principals may establish and supervise additional programs in their school, such as counseling, extracurricular activities, and before- and after-school childcare.
In public schools, principals also implement standards and programs set by the school district, state, and federal regulations. They evaluate and prepare reports based on these standards by assessing student achievement and teacher performance at their school.
Principals serve as the public representative of their school. They listen to, and try to address, the concerns of parents and the community.
The duties of principals vary by the size of the school and district. In large schools and districts, principals may have additional resources and staff to help them achieve goals. For example, large school districts often have instructional coordinators who help with data analysis and with teachers’ professional development. Principals also may have staff who help with hiring school personnel. In smaller school districts, principals may need to assume these and other duties themselves.
Many schools have assistant principals who help principals with school administration. Principals typically assign specific duties to their assistant principals. In some school districts, assistant principals handle a subject area, such as literacy or math. Assistants may handle student safety, provide student academic counseling, or enforce disciplinary or attendance rules. They may also coordinate buses or supervise building and grounds maintenance.
Elementary, middle, and high school principals held about 283,200 jobs in 2019. The largest employers of elementary, middle, and high school principals were as follows:
| Elementary and secondary schools; local | 77% |
| Elementary and secondary schools; private | 18 |
Elementary, middle, and high school principals may find it rewarding to work with students. However, coordinating and interacting with faculty, parents, students, and community members may be demanding. Principals’ work is sometimes stressful because they are accountable for their school meeting state and federal standards for student performance and teacher qualification.
Work Schedules
Principals typically work full time. They may work evenings or weekends to meet with parents and other members of the community and to attend school functions, such as concerts and athletic events.
Typically, principals work year round and do not have summers off, even if students are not in school. During the summer, principals schedule building maintenance, order school supplies, and hire new teachers and other staff in preparation for the upcoming school year.
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of elementary, middle, and high school principals.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Career and Technical Education Teachers |
Career and technical education teachers instruct students in various technical and vocational subjects, such as auto repair, healthcare, and culinary arts. |
Bachelor’s degree | $58,110 | |
High School Teachers |
High school teachers teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the job market. |
Bachelor’s degree | $61,660 | |
Instructional Coordinators |
Instructional coordinators oversee school curriculums and teaching standards. They develop instructional material, implement it, and assess its effectiveness. |
Master’s degree | $66,290 | |
Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers |
Kindergarten and elementary school teachers instruct young students in basic subjects in order to prepare them for future schooling. |
Bachelor’s degree | $59,420 | |
Librarians |
Librarians help people find information and conduct research for personal and professional use. |
Bachelor’s degree | $59,500 | |
Middle School Teachers |
Middle school teachers educate students, typically in sixth through eighth grades. |
Bachelor’s degree | $59,660 | |
Postsecondary Education Administrators |
Postsecondary education administrators oversee student services, academics, and faculty research at colleges and universities. |
Master’s degree | $95,410 | |
Postsecondary Teachers |
Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and technical subjects beyond the high school level. |
See How to Become One | $79,540 | |
Preschool and Childcare Center Directors |
Preschool and childcare center directors supervise and lead their staffs, design program plans, oversee daily activities, and prepare budgets. |
Bachelor’s degree | $48,210 | |
Preschool Teachers |
Preschool teachers educate and care for children younger than age 5 who have not yet entered kindergarten. |
Associate’s degree | $30,520 | |
School and Career Counselors |
School counselors help students develop the academic and social skills needed to succeed. Career counselors help people choose a path to employment. |
Master’s degree | $57,040 | |
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Special Education Teachers |
Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. |
Bachelor’s degree | $61,030 |
Teacher Assistants |
Teacher assistants work with a licensed teacher to give students additional attention and instruction. |
Some college, no degree | $27,920 |
For more information on elementary, middle, and high school principals, visit
National Association of Elementary School Principals
National Association of Secondary School Principals
O*NET
Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School
Suggested citation:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/elementary-middle-and-high-school-principals.htm (visited ).
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