Most principals started their careers in education as a classroom teacher and worked their way up into administrative roles. Earn a bachelor’s degree in education or a related field and pass the exam and qualifications to obtain your teaching license. Try to teach a variety of grades to gain a broad insight into students’ needs. Take on leadership roles, such as becoming a department chair, joining the schools governing body, or organizing staff development workshops. After working in the classroom for several years, seek a principal position. Most states require you to complete specific coursework and pass an exam to become a licensed administrator. Research the qualifications in your state. While advanced degrees are you not required, many aspiring principals pursue a master’s degree or doctorate in educational administration or educational leadership to learn more about how to head a school.

If you are interested in a job related to Principal, here are some popular related job searches with the most open positions on ZipRecruiter.

Top Types Of Principal Jobs

List of the top 10 highest paying Principal positions in 2026, with salary ranges, according to ZipRecruiter.

Virtual School Principal
Salary range: $85,000 - $125,000
The job duties of a virtual school principal involved overseeing the operation of an online school. Your responsibilities include defining the educational direction of the school and establishing school policies and expectations for both teachers and students. You may help hire teachers, monitor their performance, and facilitate professional development. As a member of the school administration, you also make decisions related to the budget. Your responsibilities may include outreach to increase enrollment and encouraging parental involvement in their child’s learning efforts. A virtual school principal is also responsible for ensuring that all online educational portals work effectively.
Remote School Principal
Salary range: $85,000 - $125,000
Remote School Principal is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Remote School Principal jobs pay between $85,000 (25th percentile) and $125,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Remote School Principal job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Alternative School Principal
Salary range: $74,500 - $119,000
Alternative School Principal is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Alternative School Principal jobs pay between $74,500 (25th percentile) and $119,000 (75th percentile) annually. There are lots of open positions nationwide for Alternative School Principal job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
Virtual School Assistant Principal
Salary range: $69,000 - $98,500
Virtual School Assistant Principal is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Virtual School Assistant Principal jobs pay between $69,000 (25th percentile) and $98,500 (75th percentile) annually. You’ll find many open positions nationwide for Virtual School Assistant Principal job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
High School Principal
Salary range: $93,500 - $125,000
A high school principal manages the daily operations and oversees all of the faculty and staff at a school. As a high school principal, you review all the school’s curriculum, discuss policies of the athletic and extracurricular departments, and read, analyze, and review test scores. It is your job to carry out district, state, or federal mandates regarding educational practices. The principal interviews and hires new faculty and interacts with parents and community members.
Online Principal
Salary range: $85,000 - $125,000
Online Principal is a common job search query. Most salaries for Online Principal jobs pay between $85,000 (25th percentile) and $125,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Online Principal job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Nyc Doe Assistant Principal
Salary range: $69,000 - $98,500
Nyc Doe Assistant Principal is a common job search query. Most salaries for Nyc Doe Assistant Principal jobs pay between $69,000 (25th percentile) and $98,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Nyc Doe Assistant Principal job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Retired Principal
Salary range: $85,000 - $125,000
Retired Principal is a typical job search query Most salaries for Retired Principal jobs pay between $85,000 (25th percentile) and $125,000 (75th percentile) annually. There are lots of open positions nationwide for Retired Principal job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
Neasc
Salary range: $115,000 - $261,500
Neasc is a typical job search query Most salaries for Neasc jobs pay between $115,000 (25th percentile) and $261,500 (75th percentile) annually. You’ll find many open positions nationwide for Neasc job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
Assistant Principal
Salary range: $69,000 - $98,500
As an assistant principal, you collaborate with the school principal and other members of the administrative team to handle the operational and management duties of running a school. You can find vice principal jobs at elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. In most public school districts, an assistant principal is an employee of the district and assigned to a particular school. Depending on the size of the school, you may have a focus area, such as discipline, curriculum, instruction, testing and assessments, or teacher evaluations.

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