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Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary

Also called: Elementary Principal, MS Principal (Middle School Principal), School Administrator (School Admin), Superintendent

Plan, direct, or coordinate the academic, administrative, or auxiliary activities of kindergarten, elementary, or secondary schools.

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Median pay BLS, 2025$105,870
Openings a year BLS, 2025–3520,600
Typical education to start BLSMaster's degree
AI exposure BLS, Aug 2026 High
Projected job growth BLS, 2025–35 -0.3%

What the data says: AI could halve the time on 20 of its 32 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 0.3% by 2035. How to think about this →

About this projection

BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”

It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”

On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”

Recent conditions

  • In 2024, 1.4% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Education and childcare administrators”
  • From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.8 hires for every 10 job openings in private educational services, which employs about 99% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.

How to read these

Pay compared with all occupations BLS median wages Pays more than 87% of 825 occupations
lowest-paidhighest-paid

Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates

$81k$167knot published

Median pay in every state
StateMedianMiddle half earnJobs
Alabama$97,480$82,000 to $105,4503,020
Alaska$125,520$108,710 to $131,520890
Arizona$97,480$80,120 to $106,7505,270
Arkansas$86,330$80,670 to $102,4402,760
California$159,950$130,110 to $169,35031,370
Colorado$110,530$101,100 to $134,7705,760
Connecticut$156,240$124,030 to $171,9104,610
Delaware$132,710$125,720 to $136,9501,100
District of Columbia$137,470$114,760 to $166,3001,930
Florida$96,490$78,590 to $108,68016,960
Georgia$103,360$93,980 to $126,6307,530
Guamnot publishednot published130
Hawaii$126,760$101,370 to $132,5501,910
Idaho$101,090$82,470 to $118,4901,830
Illinois$113,360$96,130 to $137,20014,850
Indiana$98,770$80,820 to $120,1606,990
Iowa$104,260$97,830 to $130,0003,310
Kansas$100,530$83,090 to $107,1402,520
Kentucky$99,920$83,770 to $110,2104,940
Louisiana$83,360$75,740 to $101,4905,080
Maine$102,890$93,080 to $124,0501,710
Maryland$131,510$103,570 to $159,6307,200
Massachusetts$128,430$103,440 to $138,38010,570
Michigan$104,020$95,110 to $126,6309,610
Minnesota$127,000$100,000 to $137,7204,120
Mississippi$82,800$78,350 to $96,7803,170
Missouri$100,400$80,580 to $122,8107,120
Montana$95,700$79,800 to $111,860930
Nebraska$110,580$99,700 to $128,9101,860
Nevada$109,420$89,120 to $132,4502,490
New Hampshire$104,910$97,030 to $122,9601,590
New Jersey$137,440$126,710 to $168,68011,450
New Mexico$107,720$98,970 to $129,0702,290
New York$138,830$106,920 to $171,53019,210
North Carolina$83,180$75,460 to $102,26011,220
North Dakota$107,940$94,990 to $134,670810
Ohio$99,590$81,240 to $119,23012,480
Oklahoma$86,630$79,010 to $100,9804,320
Oregon$130,050$101,540 to $153,6704,160
Pennsylvania$118,710$98,570 to $133,38014,460
Puerto Rico$80,130$64,420 to $83,8401,160
Rhode Island$119,980$103,400 to $129,1301,160
South Carolina$102,440$84,720 to $122,5805,000
South Dakota$88,390$78,940 to $104,660680
Tennessee$97,590$83,050 to $108,6906,180
Texas$93,910$80,500 to $104,37037,140
Utah$128,880$103,020 to $138,8502,940
Vermont$105,350$96,370 to $123,7801,000
Virgin Islands$80,910$73,050 to $103,600140
Virginia$106,100$90,740 to $134,2408,470
Washington$166,590$139,390 to $180,5406,470
West Virginia$80,650$73,410 to $92,2601,480
Wisconsin$117,010$101,480 to $128,9804,030
Wyoming$105,480$100,290 to $109,940410

Nationally: $105,870. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this

How AI touches the work

What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.

AI could halve the time on 20 of its 32 tasks

9 · AI alone could halve the time 11 · AI + software built on it could 12 · Not much
AI ratingIts main tasks Share of Claude conversations
May 2026
Not much Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities, policies, and student behavior or learning problems. under 0.01%
AI alone Set educational standards and goals, and help establish policies and procedures to carry them out. under 0.01%
AI + software Observe teaching methods and examine learning materials to evaluate and standardize curricula and teaching techniques and to determine areas for improvement. Not published
Not much Counsel and provide guidance to students regarding personal, academic, vocational, or behavioral issues. 0.26%
AI alone Collaborate with teachers to develop and maintain curriculum standards, develop mission statements, and set performance goals and objectives. Not published
AI + software Plan and lead professional development activities for teachers, administrators, and support staff. Not published
See all 32 tasks
AI + software Evaluate curricula, teaching methods, and programs to determine their effectiveness, efficiency, and use, and to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. Not published
Not much Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate primary and supplemental staff. Not published
AI + software Determine the scope of educational program offerings, and prepare drafts of course schedules and descriptions to estimate staffing and facility requirements. Not published
AI + software Create school improvement plans, using student performance data. Not published
Not much Direct and coordinate activities of teachers, administrators, and support staff at schools, public agencies, and institutions. Not published
Not much Enforce discipline and attendance rules. Not published
AI alone Plan and develop instructional methods and content for educational, vocational, or student activity programs. under 0.01%
AI + software Determine allocations of funds for staff, supplies, materials, and equipment, and authorize purchases. Not published
AI + software Prepare, maintain, or oversee the preparation and maintenance of attendance, activity, planning, or personnel reports and records. under 0.01%
AI alone Prepare and submit budget requests and recommendations, or grant proposals to solicit program funding. under 0.01%
Not much Participate in special education-related activities, such as attending meetings and providing support to special educators throughout the district. Not published
AI + software Recommend personnel actions related to programs and services. under 0.01%
AI + software Teach classes or courses to students. 0.23%
AI alone Review and approve new programs, or recommend modifications to existing programs, submitting program proposals for school board approval as necessary. Not published
Not much Organize and direct committees of specialists, volunteers, and staff to provide technical and advisory assistance for programs. Not published
AI + software Meet with federal, state, and local agencies to stay abreast of policies and to discuss improvements for education programs. Not published
AI alone Write articles, manuals, and other publications, and assist in the distribution of promotional literature about facilities and programs. under 0.01%
Not much Collect and analyze survey data, regulatory information, and data on demographic and employment trends to forecast enrollment patterns and curriculum change needs. Not published
AI alone Review and interpret government codes, and develop programs to ensure adherence to codes and facility safety, security, and maintenance. under 0.01%
AI alone Coordinate and direct extracurricular activities and programs, such as after-school events and athletic contests. Not published
Not much Advocate for new schools to be built, or for existing facilities to be repaired or remodeled. Not published
AI alone Establish, coordinate, and oversee particular programs across school districts, such as programs to evaluate student academic achievement. Not published
Not much Plan, coordinate, and oversee school logistics programs, such as bus and food services. Not published
Not much Mentor and support administrative staff members, such as superintendents and principals. Not published
AI + software Develop partnerships with businesses, communities, and other organizations to help meet identified educational needs and to provide school-to-work programs. Not published
Not much Direct and coordinate school maintenance services and the use of school facilities. Not published

Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 10 of the 32 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.

Where people already use AI

The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 32 tasks fall under 33 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.

Tasks AI could speed up20 of 32 tasksEloundou et al. ratings (2023)
Its activities among the 50 people ask AI for help with most2 of 33 activities
  • #4 Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise
  • #46 Provide support or encouragement to others
Microsoft Copilot (2024), ranked among all 332 activities. The cut-off of 50 is ours.
Work activity This occupation's tasks under it People asked AI for help
in 10,000 conversations		 AI did it for them
in 10,000 conversations
Develop educational programs, plans, or procedures 2.52#181 2.47#121
Provide support or encouragement to others 34#46 162#12
Develop organizational policies, systems, or processes 2.70#175 1.31#148
Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures 1.85#204 0.36#225
Advise others on educational or vocational matters 14#74 34#36
Advise others on business or operational matters 11#86 34#35
Analyze data to improve operations 3.31#159 1.09#162
Coordinate group, community, or public activities 3.24#162 1.26#151
Show all 33 activities
Train others on operational or work procedures 1.60#211 29#38
Supervise personnel activities 0.56#266 0.05#283
Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise 408#4 247#8
Teach academic or vocational subjects 22#54 143#14
Develop marketing or promotional materials 16#64 14#55
Evaluate programs, practices, or processes 15#67 5.67#80
Promote products, services, or programs 14#72 85#20
Prepare documentation for contracts, applications, or permits 9.38#94 1.90#132
Develop professional relationships or networks 5.83#117 1.56#140
Collect data about consumer needs or opinions 4.64#131 4.89#93
Prepare reports of operational or procedural activities 4.23#140 2.99#113
Manage budgets or finances 4.12#143 0.51#203
Coordinate activities with clients, agencies, or organizations 2.97#168 2.18#124
Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets 2.96#169 0.55#196
Maintain operational records 2.92#170 0.49#209
Monitor operations to ensure compliance with regulations or standards 2.67#176 4.32#99
Prepare schedules for services or facilities 2.46#183 2.65#119
Perform human resources activities 2.34#188 1.46#144
Assess student capabilities, needs, or performance 2.31#189 0.62#188
Prepare proposals or grant applications 1.47#214 0.60#190
Perform recruiting or hiring activities 0.99#237 0.43#217
Develop safety standards, policies, or procedures 0.94#238 0.93#169
Collaborate in the development of educational programs 0.83#248 0.53#198
Serve on organizational committees 0.21#294 0.04#288
Authorize business activities or transactions 0.21#295 0.02#312
Task: AI alone Task: AI + software Task: not much #: rank among all 332 activities Microsoft measured (#1 = most common; activities that never came up share last place, shown as “tied”)
Where the two sources differ: “Develop educational programs, plans, or procedures” holds 5 tasks rated AI + software or AI alone, yet people asked AI for help with it in 2.52 of every 10,000 conversations, #181 of 332.

How people in this work use Claude

What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations

  • Teaching material24%
  • An explanation or answer17%
  • Advice or a recommendation15%
  • A resume or job application10%
  • A plan or strategy9%

How they worked with Claude

27% handed the task off73% worked on it together

17% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.

How to read this

Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for education administrators, kindergarten through secondary specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.

The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.

More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude

High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs

BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.

AI exposure and projected job growth, 831 occupationsLow exposure: 134 of 213 occupations projected to grow. Moderate exposure: 151 of 206 occupations projected to grow. High exposure: 165 of 206 occupations projected to grow. Very high exposure: 141 of 206 occupations projected to grow.-20%-15%-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+25%Low134 of 213 growingModerate151 of 206 growingHigh165 of 206 growingVery high141 of 206 growing11 occupations outside −20% to +25% are drawn at the edge. Click a dot to see that occupation.Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary: -0.3%Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryAI exposure and projected job growth, 831 occupationsLow exposure: 134 of 213 occupations projected to grow. Moderate exposure: 151 of 206 occupations projected to grow. High exposure: 165 of 206 occupations projected to grow. Very high exposure: 141 of 206 occupations projected to grow.-20%-15%-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+25%Low134 of 213Moderate151 of 206High165 of 206Very high141 of 20611 occupations outside −20% to +25% are drawn at the edge. Tap a dot.Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary: -0.3%Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary

Career moves into and out of this occupation

From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.

Where people moved next

of 189,656 moves out

  1. 1 General and Operations Managers High +5.0% 6%
  2. 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
  3. 3 Chief Executives Very high +3.2% 6%
  4. 4 Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Very high +2.0% 5%
  5. 5 Management Analysts Very high +10.1% 4%

Where people moved in from

of 317,456 moves in

  1. 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
  2. 2 General and Operations Managers High +5.0% 6%
  3. 3 Chief Executives Very high +3.2% 4%
  4. 4 Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education High -0.4% 4%
  5. 5 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Very high -6.0% 3%

Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).

Education and training for the occupation

Education people in it hold

Census survey (American Community Survey)

  • 1% less than high school
  • 6% high school
  • 8% some college
  • 4% associate's
  • 24% bachelor's
  • 43% master's
  • 5% professional degree
  • 10% doctorate

Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Education and childcare administrators” · 11,183 people surveyed.

Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Education and childcare administrators”

Programs that prepare people for it (NCES)
7 programs, such as Educational Leadership and Administration, General, Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision and Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship.
See all
  • Educational Leadership and Administration, General
  • Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision
  • Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship
  • Secondary School Administration/Principalship
  • Superintendency and Educational System Administration
  • International School Administration/Leadership
  • Early Childhood Program Administration

Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023

94.2% this occupation

45.3% all occupations

By kindThis occupationAll occupations
a license88.2%19.1%
a certification5.8%5.8%
an educational certificate5.2%2.8%

Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this

Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor

  • Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
  • Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
  • License Finder ↗ licenses by state
  • Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 1 registered apprenticeship in this occupation (K-12 Principal). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary” there.

These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide

See where your own career could go Start by uploading your resume Browse careers

BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS

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