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60 Principal jobs in Columbus, OH

10 of the Most Popular Types of Principal Jobs in 2026

See what kind of roles similar to Principal jobs are hiring now

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Full Time Christian School Principal

    Salary range: $85,000 - $125,000

    Full Time Christian School Principal is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Full Time Christian School Principal jobs pay between $85,000 (25th percentile) and $125,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Full Time Christian 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.

  • Founding Principal

    Salary range: $85,000 - $125,000

    Founding Principal is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Founding Principal jobs pay between $85,000 (25th percentile) and $125,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Founding Principal job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

  • Public School Principal

    Salary range: $74,500 - $119,000

    Public School Principal is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Public School Principal jobs pay between $74,500 (25th percentile) and $119,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Public 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.

  • 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.

  • Catholic School Administrator

    Salary range: $34,500 - $58,500

    Catholic School Administrator is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Catholic School Administrator jobs pay between $34,500 (25th percentile) and $58,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Catholic School Administrator job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

  • Private School Principal

    Salary range: $85,000 - $125,000

    Private School Principal is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Private School Principal jobs pay between $85,000 (25th percentile) and $125,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Private 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.

  • Interim School Principal

    Salary range: $85,000 - $125,000

    Interim School Principal is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Interim School Principal jobs pay between $85,000 (25th percentile) and $125,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Interim 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.

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