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School Principal Salary in California

Explore school principal salaries in California including median pay, entry-level and senior compensation, and how it compares to the national average.

Median Salary in CA
$135,757
Monthly: $11,313
Biweekly: $5,221
Entry Level
$82,883
Monthly: $6,907
Biweekly: $3,188
Senior Level
$185,773
Monthly: $15,481
Biweekly: $7,145
Job Growth
14%
Projected 10-year growth

Salary Breakdown

Pay PeriodEntry LevelMedianSenior
Annual$82,883$135,757$185,773
Monthly$6,907$11,313$15,481
Biweekly$3,188$5,221$7,145
Weekly$1,594$2,611$3,573
Hourly$40$65$89

CA vs National Comparison

National Median
$106,060
CA Median
$135,757
Difference
+$29,697
Multiplier
1.28x
National
CA

About This Career

Manage school operations and ensure educational quality.

Education

Master's degree in Educational Leadership; Principal certification required

Key Skills

Educational LeadershipBudget ManagementStaff ManagementInstructional Supervision

Compare States

See how California compares to other states for school principal salaries:

TXCANYFLCO

Compare Jobs

Compare salaries for other education jobs in California:

Elementary School TeacherHigh School TeacherSpecial Education TeacherSchool Counselor

Explore Related Data for a School Principal in California

Dig into every angle of a school principal salary ($135,757 median) in California — take-home pay, affordability, taxes, mortgage, retirement, and city-level data.

Take-home pay on $135,757 in California

Federal, state, Social Security, and Medicare — what you keep after taxes.

What you can afford on $135,757 in California

Home price, rent, and monthly spending guidelines for this income.

Tax brackets on $135,757 in California

Exactly which federal and state brackets your salary crosses.

$550,000 mortgage in California

Monthly payment, property tax, and total interest at typical rates.

Retirement at 30 earning $140,000

Savings benchmarks and projections for your income level.

School Principal salary in Los Angeles

Drill down to city-level salary data for Los Angeles, California.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median school principal salary in California?

The median school principal salary in California is $135,757, compared to a national median of $106,060.

What is the entry-level school principal salary in California?

Entry-level school principal positions in California typically pay around $82,883 annually.

What is the senior school principal salary in California?

Senior school principal professionals in California earn around $185,773 annually.

What is the job growth outlook for school principal?

The projected 10-year job growth outlook for school principal positions is 14%, which indicates strong demand in this field.

What education is needed to become a school principal?

Master's degree in Educational Leadership; Principal certification required

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