Salaries › School Principal › North Carolina
School Principal Salary in North Carolina (2026)
— per hour · take-home ≈ $64,537/year ($5,378/month) for a single filer
School Principal pay range in North Carolina
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $63,240 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $75,460 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $83,180 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $102,260 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $121,380 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 11,220 School Principal jobs in North Carolina (occupation code 11-9032, “Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary”).
Gross vs. take-home in North Carolina
A median School Principal salary of $83,180 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus North Carolina state income tax, a single filer keeps about $64,537 — an effective tax rate of 22.4%.
| Gross (median) | $83,180 |
| Federal income tax | −$9,470 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$6,363 |
| North Carolina state income tax | −$2,810 |
| Take-home (annual) | $64,537 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $5,378 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free North Carolina paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a School Principal make in North Carolina?
- The median School Principal salary in North Carolina is $83,180 per year (— per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $75,460 and $102,260.
- What is the take-home pay for a School Principal in North Carolina?
- On the median salary of $83,180, a single filer in North Carolina takes home about $64,537 per year ($5,378 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 22.4%.
- How many School Principal jobs are there in North Carolina?
- BLS counts 11,220 School Principal jobs in North Carolina in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for School Principals
Other salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina.