Salaries › School Principal › California
School Principal Salary in California (2026)
— per hour · take-home ≈ $109,793/year ($9,149/month) for a single filer
School Principal pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $103,250 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $130,110 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $159,950 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $169,350 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $202,380 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 31,370 School Principal jobs in California (occupation code 11-9032, “Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median School Principal salary of $159,950 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $109,793 — an effective tax rate of 31.4%.
| Gross (median) | $159,950 |
| Federal income tax | −$27,122 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$12,236 |
| California state income tax | −$10,799 |
| Take-home (annual) | $109,793 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $9,149 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a School Principal make in California?
- The median School Principal salary in California is $159,950 per year (— per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $130,110 and $169,350.
- What is the take-home pay for a School Principal in California?
- On the median salary of $159,950, a single filer in California takes home about $109,793 per year ($9,149 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 31.4%.
- How many School Principal jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 31,370 School Principal jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for School Principals
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.