Career comparison
Elementary School Teacher 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. $63,970), while elementary school teachers usually get to work faster (4 years plus licensing of training). Elementary school teachers teach children in grades 1 through 5 the foundations of every subject. 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
| Elementary School Teacher | School Principal | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $63,970 | $105,870 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $47,960 – $104,340 | $76,280 – $167,770 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -0.4% (little or no change) | -0.3% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 87,500 | 20,600 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Master's degree |
| Training time | 4 years plus licensing | 5+ years of teaching plus a master’s |
| Key credential | State teaching license | State administrator license |
| Work setting | Teachers work in elementary school classrooms, with time in meetings and duties around the school.. | Principals work in school buildings, moving between offices, classrooms, hallways and events.. |
What each job does
Elementary School Teacher
- Plan and teach lessons in core subjects
- Assess and grade student work
- Manage classroom behavior
- Differentiate instruction
- Communicate with families
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 helping others, working with people, teamwork, and high responsibility. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose elementary school teacher if…
- I want to help children learn
- I enjoy teaching many subjects
- 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 Elementary School Teacher fit quiz and the School Principal fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, elementary school teacher or school principal?
School Principals earn more at the median: $105,870 versus $63,970 for elementary school teachers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Elementary School Teachers typically train faster (4 years plus licensing) than school principals (5+ years of teaching plus a master’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects school principals to grow -0.3% from 2025–35, compared with -0.4% for elementary school teachers.