Career comparison
College Administrator vs. School Principal
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
School principals earn more at the median ($105,870 vs. $104,590), while college administrators usually get to work faster (Master’s plus campus experience of training). College administrators run the offices that keep colleges and universities working. School principals lead a school’s teachers, students and families toward strong learning.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| College Administrator | School Principal | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $104,590 ($50.29/hr) | $105,870 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $64,560 – $215,620 | $76,280 – $167,770 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +1.8% (slower than average) | -0.3% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 14,500 | 20,600 |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree | Master's degree |
| Training time | Master’s plus campus experience | 5+ years of teaching plus a master’s |
| Key credential | Master’s in higher education | State administrator license |
| Work setting | Administrators work in campus offices, with meetings across campus.. | Principals work in school buildings, moving between offices, classrooms, hallways and events.. |
What each job does
College Administrator
- Manage a college office or division
- Set policies and procedures
- Oversee budgets
- Supervise staff
- Track enrollment and retention data
School Principal
- Lead the school’s instructional program
- Observe and evaluate teachers
- Manage budgets and staffing
- Handle student discipline
- Keep the school safe
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, high responsibility, teamwork, and high-pay. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose college administrator if…
- I love campus life
- I like managing people
- I’m organized
Choose school principal if…
- I’m an experienced teacher
- I want to lead adults
- I stay calm in conflict
Still torn? Take the College Administrator fit quiz and the School Principal fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, college administrator or school principal?
School Principals earn more at the median: $105,870 versus $104,590 for college administrators, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
College Administrators typically train faster (Master’s plus campus experience) than school principals (5+ years of teaching plus a master’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects college administrators to grow +1.8% from 2025–35, compared with -0.3% for school principals.