Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary earn a median of $105,870 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 0.3% through 2035, with about 20,600 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
- SOC 11-9032
- Management
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Education Administrator, Kindergarten through Secondary in four numbers
- Median pay
- $105,870a yearBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $76KTop 10% $168K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -0.3%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−0.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −0.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 20,600343,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025343.8K
- Projected 2035342.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 343.8K Projected 2035 342.7K - Typical education
- Master'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Athletic Director, Curriculum and Instruction Superintendent, Curriculum Director, Elementary Principal, K-12 Principal (Kindergarten Through Twelfth Grade Principal), MS Principal (Middle School Principal).
Pay
How much do education administrators make?
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary earn a median of $105,870 a year (about $8,820 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $76,280 and the top 10% more than $167,770 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is Washington, with a median of $166,590. See Education administrator, kindergarten through secondary salary in Washington and every other state. By city, pay is highest around Bremerton ($169,480 average): salary in every city.
Every education administrator, kindergarten through secondary in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$105,870
Middle half earn $86,040 to $134,630
- 10th
- $76,280
- 25th
- $86,040
- 75th
- $134,630
- 90th
- $167,770
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $76,280 |
| 25th | $86,040 |
| Median | $105,870 |
| 75th | $134,630 |
| 90th | $167,770 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $105,870
- Median hourly wage
- N/A
- Mean annual wage
- $116,100
- People employed
- 328,330
Versus all US occupations
At $105,870, Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary earn 108% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $54,890 a year.
Versus management occupations
Inside the Management group, where the middle occupation pays $126,060, this is 16% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $167,770 or more while the bottom 10% earn $76,280, a gap of 2.2×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 80% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Washington pays the most at $166,590, and still leads at $155,673 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay education administrators the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Washington | $166,590 | $155,673 | 6,470 |
| 2California | $159,950 | $144,464 | 31,370 |
| 3Connecticut | $156,240 | $150,796 | 4,610 |
| 4New York | $138,830 | $128,640 | 19,210 |
| 5District of Columbia | $137,470 | $125,085 | 1,930 |
| 6New Jersey | $137,440 | $126,318 | 11,450 |
| 7Delaware | $132,710 | $132,965 | 1,100 |
| 8Maryland | $131,510 | $125,297 | 7,200 |
| 9Oregon | $130,050 | $125,821 | 4,160 |
| 10Utah | $128,880 | $130,361 | 2,940 |
Job outlook
Is education administrator, kindergarten through secondary a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -0.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | −0.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary to change -0.3% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 1,200 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 20,600 openings are projected each year, 6.0% of the 343,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Despite declining employment, about 20,600 openings for elementary, middle, and high school principals are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment will be affected by student enrollment and the number of educational institutions.
There are a limited number of principal positions available per school. If student enrollment increases, more schools will open, which could increase demand. Conversely, stagnant or decreasing student enrollment may reduce the demand for principals.
AI exposure: high
BLS places this occupation in its high relative AI exposure category, above the middle of the pack: a substantial share of the work overlaps with what AI can do.
Getting in
How to become an education administrator, kindergarten through secondary
Most schools require elementary, middle, and high school principals to have a master’s degree in education administration or leadership. Principals also need teaching experience.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Master's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
5 years or more
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Extensive preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does an education administrator, kindergarten through secondary do?
Plan, direct, or coordinate the academic, administrative, or auxiliary activities of kindergarten, elementary, or secondary schools.
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.
Day-to-day tasks
- Set educational standards and goals, and help establish policies and procedures to carry them out.
- Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities, policies, and student behavior or learning problems.
- Plan and lead professional development activities for teachers, administrators, and support staff.
- Direct and coordinate activities of teachers, administrators, and support staff at schools, public agencies, and institutions.
- Create school improvement plans, using student performance data.
- Evaluate curricula, teaching methods, and programs to determine their effectiveness, efficiency, and use, and to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
- Collaborate with teachers to develop and maintain curriculum standards, develop mission statements, and set performance goals and objectives.
- Observe teaching methods and examine learning materials to evaluate and standardize curricula and teaching techniques and to determine areas for improvement.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most principals work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. 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.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where education administrators, kindergarten through secondary work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Elementary and secondary schools; local74%
- Elementary and secondary schools; private21%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Elementary and secondary schools; local | 74% |
| Elementary and secondary schools; private | 21% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.9
- Learning Strategies4.9
- Reading Comprehension4.8
- Speaking4.8
- Writing4.6
- Critical Thinking4.6
- Active Learning4.0
- Monitoring4.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 4.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.8 |
| Speaking | 4.8 |
| Writing | 4.6 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.6 |
| Active Learning | 4.0 |
| Monitoring | 4.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making4.8
- Management of Personnel Resources4.1
- Social Perceptiveness4.0
- Complex Problem Solving4.0
- Systems Evaluation4.0
- Coordination3.9
- Persuasion3.9
- Negotiation3.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.8 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 4.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 |
| Systems Evaluation | 4.0 |
| Coordination | 3.9 |
| Persuasion | 3.9 |
| Negotiation | 3.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software
- Communications server software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as an education administrator, kindergarten through secondary?
Women make up 66.4% of education administrators, kindergarten through secondary, against 47.1% of all employed people: more women than in the workforce as a whole.
25.9% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs.
The median worker is 47.1 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 66.4%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 47.1All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 25.9%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 1,052,000Education and childcare administrators · BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of education administrators, kindergarten through secondary | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 66.4% | 47.1% |
| White | 75.2% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 16.2% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 4.4% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 14.3% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 25.9% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 2.5% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%. CPS reports this occupation only within the wider Census group “Education and childcare administrators”, so these figures are for that group.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an education administrator, kindergarten through secondary?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Education Administrator, Kindergarten through Secondary |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 6 |
| Enterprising | 5 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Social5.7
- Enterprising5.3
- Conventional4.7
- Investigative3.1
- Artistic2.8
- Realistic1.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Education Administrator, Kindergarten through Secondary
O*NET related occupations
- Management
Education and Childcare Administrator, Preschool and Daycare
$59,300median a year
Most earn $39K to $98K
−3.1%Bachelor's - Educational Instruction and Library
- Educational Instruction and Library
Special Education Teacher, Secondary School
$74,260median a year
Most earn $50K to $109K
−0.2%Bachelor's - Management
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Educational Instruction and Library
Special Education Teacher, Elementary School
$67,170median a year
Most earn $49K to $105K
−0.1%Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
More management careers
Median annual pay, with education administrators, kindergarten through secondary highlighted
- IT Manager$175,140
- Marketing Manager$166,790
- Financial Manager$166,570
- Human Resources Manager$149,280
- Sales Manager$148,270
- Construction Manager$114,990
- Supply Chain Manager$107,230
- Education Administrator, Kindergarten through Secondary$105,870
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager$69,990
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| IT Manager | $175,140 |
| Marketing Manager | $166,790 |
| Financial Manager | $166,570 |
| Human Resources Manager | $149,280 |
| Sales Manager | $148,270 |
| Construction Manager | $114,990 |
| Supply Chain Manager | $107,230 |
| Education Administrator, Kindergarten through Secondary | $105,870 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager | $69,990 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within education administrator, kindergarten through secondary
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Education Administrator, Kindergarten through Secondary appears on
Questions
Education Administrator, Kindergarten through Secondary: frequently asked questions
How much do education administrators make?
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary earn a median of $105,870 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 108% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. The middle half earn between $86,040 and $134,630. The top 10% earn $167,770 or more.
What is the starting salary for an education administrator, kindergarten through secondary?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of education administrators, kindergarten through secondary earn less than $76,280 a year and the bottom quarter less than $86,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do education administrators make $100k?
Yes, more often than not. The median is $105,870, so more than half of education administrators, kindergarten through secondary earn over $100,000 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). In 35 states the median itself is above $100,000: Washington ($166,590), California ($159,950), Connecticut ($156,240), New York ($138,830), and 31 more.
Which states pay education administrators the most?
The highest state medians for Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary are Washington ($166,590), California ($159,950), Connecticut ($156,240) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What kind of education administrator, kindergarten through secondary earns the most?
BLS does not split education administrators, kindergarten through secondary' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $167,770, against a median of $105,870 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are Washington ($166,590), California ($159,950), Connecticut ($156,240). BLS also counts a specialty career inside this occupation (head of school), which shares its federal pay figures.
Do you need a degree to become an education administrator, kindergarten through secondary?
Yes. BLS reports a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as extensive preparation. Employers typically expect 5 years or more of related work experience first.
How long does it take to become an education administrator, kindergarten through secondary?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for education administrators is a master's degree, plus 5 years or more of work experience in a related occupation. O*NET classes the work as needing extensive preparation.
Is education administrator, kindergarten through secondary a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 0.3% over 2025–2035, a loss of 1,200 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 20,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an education administrator, kindergarten through secondary do?
Elementary, middle, and high school principals oversee all school operations, including daily school activities. A core O*NET task: set educational standards and goals, and help establish policies and procedures to carry them out. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Data base management system software, Data base user interface and query software.
Do education administrators work 40 hours a week?
Most work more than 40. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 80% of education administrators, kindergarten through secondary usually work more than 40 hours a week, 20% work exactly 40 and 0% work fewer. 93% say their schedule is regular and 7% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits an education administrator, kindergarten through secondary?
O*NET scores Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary highest on the Social, Enterprising and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESFJ, ENFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
What percentage of education administrators are women?
Women make up 66.4% of education administrators, kindergarten through secondary, against 47.1% of all employed people: more women than in the workforce as a whole. 25.9% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs. The median worker is 47.1 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages, for the Census group "Education and childcare administrators".