Policy
Report: School Superintendents Earn Average of $122,000 Annually
School superintendents earn an average salary of $122,000 and a median salary
of $113,000, with base salaries ranging from $36,000 to $315,000, according to a
new report from the School Superintendents
Association (AASA).
The report, the 2014 AASA Superintendents Salary and Benefits Study, includes responses from
1,711 superintendents from all 50 states. The respondents were predominantly
white (94 percent) and male (79 percent). The majority (55.2 percent) of
respondents were from districts with 300 to 2,499 students, and the second
largest group of respondents (22.4 percent) were from districts with 2,500 to
9,999 students.
Survey respondents answered questions about general demographics, salary,
performance evaluations, retirement benefits, insurance benefits, rehiring after
retirement, other benefits, use of legal counsel and membership in professional
associations.
For the third year in a row, respondents reported slightly improved economic
conditions in school districts, with 53 percent reporting their districts'
economic conditions as stable, compared to 50 percent in 2013 and 45 percent the
year before. However, nearly 40 percent of respondents reported declining
economic conditions in their districts.
Key findings from the report:
- Districts with larger enrollments reported higher median salaries of
superintendents, high school principals and teachers;
- Districts with larger enrollments also reported higher median base
salaries of assistant or associate superintendents, middle school principals
and elementary school principals, although the relatively small number of
individuals serving in those roles in the smallest districts made
comparisons difficult;
- The average age of female respondents was 53.1 years, and the average
age of male respondents was 51.7 years (the first year respondents were
asked their age); and
- Nearly half of respondents had been in their current position from one
to five years, with males reporting greater longevity in their current
position than females.
The report was released ahead of the AASA's National Conference on Education, which will take place in San Diego
February 26-28.
A free PDF of the non-member version of the 2014 AASA Superintendents Salary
and Benefits Study is available for download from the AASA site.
About the Author
Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at leilameyer@gmail.com.