Superintendent vs. Principal: Job Description, How to Become One, and More

Those interested in educational leadership and administrative positions in pre-K through 12th grade have a range of career options to choose from. Among the most popular, in-demand careers in this area are superintendent and principal roles. 

Exploring superintendent vs. principal roles, including the education, skills, and licensing requirements for each, is essential to making informed long-term career choices. Earning a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Pre-K-12 Leadership can prepare aspiring superintendents and principals for these rewarding roles. 

What Is a Superintendent?

Superintendents are skilled professionals who carry out a wide range of administrative and leadership duties in elementary, middle, and high school settings. The role can be compared to that of a college dean, a higher education administrative role requiring similar advanced education, skills development, and leadership qualities. The superintendent role is considered the highest-ranking administrative role in precollege education. 

Superintendents are typically either appointed by members of district school boards or, in some jurisdictions, elected. In a few states, additional variations may apply. For example, in Florida, superintendents are typically elected by default, but state law allows for voters to switch to an appointed system in their districts. 

In public schools, superintendents oversee entire school districts, and a district’s size may directly affect the scope and number of their duties and responsibilities. Although private schools don’t have districts, some still hire superintendents to oversee operations and make decisions for the benefit of the students, the staff, and the community as a whole. 

Some states also have a state superintendent of public instruction. In California, for example, the state superintendent is the nonpartisan, elected executive of the California State Board of Education and serves a four-year term as the chief spokesperson for the state’s public schools.

Superintendent Duties and Responsibilities

Superintendents perform the following duties and responsibilities:

• Developing and implementing district goals and policies in conjunction with the school board
• Analyzing data regarding student achievement, teacher performance, and attendance metrics
• Overseeing curricular and extracurricular programs and ensuring regulatory compliance
• Leading committees to select textbooks and other instructional materials
• Managing the district’s annual budget by effectively allocating resources
• Communicating regular updates to the school board
• Managing transportation, school safety and policing, and facilities
• Fostering and maintaining relationships with the community, including parents and local organizations, to garner support for individual schools and school systems
• Meeting with the public, community organizations, and government agencies to serve as a district representative

How to Become a Superintendent

When comparing superintendent vs. principal roles, the education and skill requirements are similar, and the majority of superintendents first serve as principals. However, rising to the level of superintendent requires senior-level management experience beyond running an individual school. 

Education

Superintendents typically begin their postsecondary education by earning a bachelor’s degree, often in education with a focus on leadership and administration. Most public school systems require superintendents to earn at least a master’s degree in a similar field, and many prefer a doctorate. An EdD in pre-K-12 Leadership provides the skills required to become an expert in these particular settings. 

Experience

Experience requirements for superintendents vary, with private schools having fewer requirements than public schools. However, the path to becoming a school superintendent is long, often taking 15 to 20 years in different educational and administrative roles. 

Most superintendents have served as principals, and most principals began their careers as classroom teachers. Beyond experience leading individual schools, superintendent positions typically require district-level administrative experience in roles such as chief communications officer, chief academic officer, school district lobbyist, and assistant superintendent. 

Licensing and Certification

Many states and districts require superintendents to obtain specific licenses or certifications to work in public school systems. Each state has its own requirements, but most follow a process that involves completing a state-approved program and passing an exam. Each state’s department or board of education can provide more specific information.

For example, in New Hampshire, superintendents must obtain Superintendent Certification through the New Hampshire Department of Education. Requirements include holding a master’s degree, having three years of experience in educational administration, holding a valid principal certification, and completing graduate-level education in school district leadership. Many advanced educational leadership programs also offer credentialing pathways. 

Key Skills

School superintendents have very broad skill sets. School districts most value the following:

• Budgeting and cost control
• School safety protocols
• Communication
• Team building
• Instructional knowledge
• School operations
• Curriculum development
• Data analysis

Salary and Job Outlook

The median annual salary for school superintendents was about $155,140 as of December 2025, according to Payscale. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that positions for top executives, including school superintendents, will see approximately 331,000 openings between 2024 and 2034 to meet the demand for skilled professionals and leaders who can make important decisions for school districts. 

What Is a Principal?

The differences between superintendents and principals are many. Whereas superintendents oversee several schools within a region, principals supervise operations at a single elementary, middle, or high school within a district. Principals are the highest-ranking administrators in a school and are often assisted by vice principals in supporting students, faculty, and staff. Principals often work closely with superintendents, particularly on budgeting, curriculum, and program development. 

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

A principal’s duties and responsibilities can vary based on the size of the school. Those working in smaller schools with fewer students and faculty may have a broader scope of duties than those working in larger schools with more students and faculty. 

For example, in very small schools, principals may be asked to coach sports teams or oversee other extracurricular activities. In larger schools, principals are likely to spend more of their time on fewer,  more administrative tasks. 

The most common duties and responsibilities of principals include the following:

• Managing school staff and activities
• Developing class schedules 
• Implementing and ensuring compliance with curriculum standards 
• Establishing school culture
• Administering board and district policies
• Disciplining and counseling students
• Evaluating teachers’ effectiveness and performance
• Meeting with parents and teachers about student performance 
• Managing the school budget, ordering supplies, and ensuring maintenance is performed
• Developing security procedures for students, staff, faculty, and visitors 
• Managing community and parent relations
• Serving as the public face of the school

How to Become a Principal

The requirements to become a principal and a superintendent are in many ways similar. Superintendents often first work as principals to gain the leadership experience required to take on additional responsibilities at the district level. 

Education

Similar to superintendents, principals typically earn a bachelor’s degree—sometimes in education, but often in the field they plan to teach. Most principal positions also require a master’s degree in educational leadership or administration. These programs are designed to provide the skills and knowledge required to thrive as principals, including managing staff, creating and adhering to budgets, and developing curricula according to state standards. 

Experience

Most principals begin their careers as licensed classroom teachers, a role that typically requires earning a bachelor’s degree, completing a teacher preparation program, gaining experience as a student teacher, and passing a state exam—a process that can take four to seven years. After a few years in the classroom, aspiring principals usually work in roles such as department chair, curriculum coordinator, and vice principal to gain administrative experience. 

Licensing and Certification

In public schools, most states require principals to obtain school administrator licenses, with requirements varying by state. Candidates may be required to pass an exam and a background check, while those who are licensed teachers and have completed an educational leadership degree may qualify. Individual state boards or departments of education can provide specific information about their requirements. 

The New Hampshire Department of Education Bureau of Credentialing provides both principals and associate principals with specific credentials. Both positions require at least a bachelor’s degree in school administration or educational leadership and a recommendation from the program that prepared them. Some state programs offer credentialing pathways.

Key Skills

A principal’s role can vary based on the size of the school and the age of the students, but most districts consider the following skills essential:

• Leadership 
• Conflict resolution and empathy
• Delegation
• Curriculum development
• Cultural competence
• Human resources (HR)
• Strategic planning
• Budgeting and cost reduction
• Communication
• Basic information technology (IT) skills and technical knowledge

Salary and Job Outlook

The BLS reported that the median annual salary for elementary, middle, and high school principals was about $104,070 as of May 2024, with those working in public schools earning slightly more than their counterparts in private school settings. About 20,800 openings are projected each year between 2024 and 2034 to replace principals who are retiring or moving into other roles. 

Prepare for a Career as a Superintendent or Principal with an Educational Leadership Degree

Superintendents and principals are essential leaders in education. While the former oversee entire school districts, the latter are the top administrators in a specific elementary, middle, or high school in a district. Both career options allow aspiring administrators to have a positive impact on students and faculty, improving education in their communities and changing young lives for the better. 

Earning a low-residency EdD in Pre-K-12 Leadership degree from New England College can be an excellent choice for both roles. Diving deeper than a master’s degree, the program allows students to explore innovation and entrepreneurialism in educational leadership, uniquely positioning them to help their schools and districts succeed in today’s complex environments. 

Through courses and seminars focused on educational research, the development and implementation of best practices in education, and educational reform, students gain the knowledge they need to change education for the better. Doctoral students learn how to use data to make informed decisions, apply pedagogical approaches to maximize learning opportunities, and develop strategies to address learning gaps. 

NEC’s three-year low-residency, cohort-based program also offers School Principal and School Superintendent licensure tracks that prepare educators for senior administrative positions. Learn more about how earning your EdD with NEC can propel your leadership career.