What is a school superintendent salary? new for 2022

We all know that school superintendent salaries are important, but also painfully hard to find. 

Most of your research on this topic will end up wasted because it’s not easy to get accurate information on the subject.

Luckily for you, we’ve provided some useful information on what salary superintendents make in every state and city in the US. With our information, you will have clearly overview of this position.

What does a school superintendent do?

Role and importance of a school superintendent: 

The main responsibility of a school superintendent is to be in charge and solve all the administrative problems of the school. As education is more than just classes and knowledge, it is also important to make sure that everything runs smoothly in the administrative level, to assure that everything is in order and that there are no problems or complications. 

Those responsibilities may change according to the country’s legislation. In the United States, because school superintendents are usually members of their local boards of education and can be elected or appointed by members of local.

The school superintendent is the head of the school system. They are responsible for hiring new teachers, organizing bus schedules, taking care of books and equipment, and sometimes even dealing with student discipline. 

In addition to these responsibilities, the school superintendent is charged with overseeing the budget of the school system as well as scheduling parent-teacher meetings.

 The school superintendent may also attend events for teachers, students, and faculty to promote their school system.

The early development of the school system was built around a small group of administrators. In most cases, it was the same individuals who were responsible for both teaching students and providing administrative guidance to teachers.

Over time, these functions were split into two separate roles where students would be taught by a teacher and the school superintendent.

How much do school superintendents make? 

Superintendents in public schools are often paid well above the average teacher’s salary. Many school districts offer high salaries to attract top leaders who can help the school make improvements.

*Based on data collected from 1760 public schools in 49 states.

Comparison based on the latest available data from 2012-2013 school year, as reported by the US Department of Education. Some small, rural schools are missing because they do not report compensation data. The average teacher salary among all schools is $55,319.

The average public school superintendent’s salary is $132,744. However, the state with the highest average superintendent salary – New Jersey – pays their superintendents an average of $194,545. The lowest-paid superintendent salaries are in South Dakota ($89,810) and Oregon ($91,500). The highest-paid superintendents earn about 177% more than the average teacher. 

According to Salary.com, school superintendents earned a median salary of $164,444 in January 2021. School superintendent salaries in the United States typically range from $106,901 to $229,359 per year.

What are the educational requirements to become a school superintendent?

Typically, becoming a school superintendent begins with teaching elementary, middle, or high school.  A bachelor’s degree in education is required, as well as an advanced degree, perhaps a doctorate. They would be hired as an assistant principal first, learn on the job from the school principal, and then, if necessary, be promoted to principal.

After several years of teaching and possibly gaining experience teaching different grades, teachers may decide they want to be a school principal.

Job Qualifications for the Superintendent of a School

Every school district is governed by a Board of Education, and the Superintendent (Super for short) is appointed to be a chief executive officer. This person must be a skilled administrator as well as a visionary. A typical school super must have the following qualities: 

First, they must know all about education, not just how to do it. Second, they must have an understanding of the community and school district they work in. Third, they should have the desire to continually learn. And last, they have to be able to relate to other people in both formal and informal ways.

What impacts a school superintendent’s salary?

Superintendent salaries depend on the size of the school division, whether they are public or private and, in some cases, experience.

In 2015, the average salary for a school superintendent was $149,837. The median salary—meaning half of the school districts pay more and half pay less—was $143,582.

The average public school division paid around $140,000 for their superintendent in 2015. Private school divisions paid an average of $154,000.

The experience level of the superintendent also impacts salary. A superintendent with less than three years of experience can expect an average salary of $116,000. A superintendent with over 11 years of experience can make a salary of around $188,000.

F.A.Q

What Is the Average School Superintendent Salary by State?

Source: Ziprecruiter.com – Update 2021

The States Have Highest Paying for School Superintendent Jobs in the U.S.

According to Ziprecruiter.com, a website of salary survey in the US, they found four states where the average salary for a School Superintendent job is higher than the national average. Washington is at the top of the list, with New York and New Hampshire close behind in second and third place. New Hampshire outperforms the national average by 3.6 percent, and Washington adds another $10,535 (13.0 percent) to the $81,172.

What is the Pay by Experience Level for School Superintendents?

An entry-level School Superintendent with less than 1 year of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of $115,357. 

And an experienced School Superintendent with 10-19 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $124,457.

Source: payscale.com

Conclusion

As you can see, update 2021, the average superintendent salary for a district ranges from $106,901 to $229,359 per year. This is an incredible amount of money and there are many factors that contribute to these salaries. If you’re looking for a new job in this field or just want more information about being a school superintendent, we have all the resources available on our blog! Have any questions? Let us know below