Salary guide
Principal salary
What principals are advertised at on live vacancies we hold — we name the nation whenever we publish a figure.
Official pay scale · England 2026-27
£53,586–£148,829
Leadership pay range outside London, from the national teacher pay document
| Pay range | Rest of England | London fringe | Outer London | Inner London |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leadership pay range | £53,586–£148,829 | £55,060–£150,301 | £57,837–£153,042 | £63,709–£158,863 |
Source: School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document 2026 (DfE)
These are the statutory ranges for maintained schools in England. Academies and independent schools may set their own pay, and many follow these ranges. Responsibility payments (TLRs) and SEN allowances are paid on top. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own scales.
Read the official document (GOV.UK)Principal job openings
Principal
Lift Shafton · Barnsley
Principal
Lime Hills Academy · Nailsea
PA to Principal and Senior Leadership Team
Temple Learning Academy · Leeds
Principal
St Thomas More Catholic Primary School · Walsall
Principal
St Mary's Catholic Primary School · Stafford
Principal
Purple Oaks Academy · Northampton
Schools hiring principals
Ranked by live vacancy volume. We do not publish employer-level pay figures.
Where principals are being advertised
Areas with the most live principal vacancies.
Similar roles to Principal
Assistant Head of Sixth Form
Leadership pay framework (England)
See assistant head of sixth form salary guide
Assistant Head of Year
Leadership pay framework (England)
See assistant head of year salary guide
Assistant Headteacher
Leadership pay framework (England)
See assistant headteacher salary guide
Assistant Principal
Leadership pay framework (England)
See assistant principal salary guide
Associate Assistant Headteacher
Leadership pay framework (England)
See associate assistant headteacher salary guide
Associate Headteacher
Leadership pay framework (England)
See associate headteacher salary guide
Career advice for principal roles
Frequently asked questions
How much does a principal earn?
We do not yet hold enough verified salary evidence to publish a principal figure. Rather than estimate, we show live vacancies so you can see what employers are actually advertising.
Does principal pay vary by area?
It can, but we only publish area differences where we have enough evidence for that area — we never apply a regional multiplier to invent a local figure.
What pay framework applies to a principal?
School leadership posts in maintained schools in England are normally paid on a leadership pay range determined under the STPCD, with the individual range set by the governing body. Academies may set their own leadership pay. Other UK nations have their own arrangements.
Find your next principal job
Live UK principal vacancies from schools, trusts and agencies.
Browse Principal jobs