Head teachers and principals: pay and what the work involves

Occupation 2321 · Professional occupations

Head teachers and principals

Head teachers and principals plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the running of schools, colleges and other educational establishments.

How people enter it

Entrants usually possess a degree or equivalent qualification and have gained significant relevant experience in the field of education. Specialist training courses to become a head teacher are available. A DBS check may be required.

What the work involves

sets the school's values, provides leadership to staff and helps create an encouraging environment for learning
considers staffing, financial, material and other short- and long-term needs
leads or contributes to decision making processes regarding curricula, budgetary, disciplinary and other matters
monitors schools performance and sets goals for student's academic achievements
liaises with parents and pupils
assists with recruitment, public relations and marketing activities
coordinates and maintains quality assurance procedures

Also called

Head master (secondary school) · Head teacher (primary school) · Principal (further education) · Rector (university)

What it pays

Measure	Hours	Basis	Period	Value	Source
2321 : Head teachers and principals	None	None	2026-03	39,200.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
2321 : Head teachers and principals	None	None	2026-03	40,900.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
2321 : Head teachers and principals	None	None	2026-03	44,400.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
2321 : Head teachers and principals	None	None	2026-03	1,600.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
2321 : Head teachers and principals	None	None	2026-03	3,500.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
2321 : Head teachers and principals	None	None	2026-03	46,000.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
2321 : Head teachers and principals	None	None	2026-03	1,600.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)

Every regional figure

ONS does not publish occupational pay below region. Cells the survey could not support are shown as withheld, with its reason — adding a region split to a specific occupation leaves roughly a tenth of cells publishable.

Region	Measure	Hours	Value	Period
East	2321 : Head teachers and principals	None	7,100.00	2026-03
East Midlands	2321 : Head teachers and principals	None	2,200.00	2026-03
London	2321 : Head teachers and principals	None	4,900.00	2026-03
North East	2321 : Head teachers and principals	None	2,700.00	2026-03
North West	2321 : Head teachers and principals	None	4,600.00	2026-03
Northern Ireland	2321 : Head teachers and principals	None	1,600.00	2026-03
Scotland	2321 : Head teachers and principals	None	3,500.00	2026-03
South East	2321 : Head teachers and principals	None	6,400.00	2026-03
South West	2321 : Head teachers and principals	None	5,800.00	2026-03
Wales	2321 : Head teachers and principals	None	1,600.00	2026-03
West Midlands	2321 : Head teachers and principals	None	2,900.00	2026-03
Yorkshire and The Humber	2321 : Head teachers and principals	None	2,700.00	2026-03

Common questions

Does pay for head teachers and principals vary by region?

ONS publishes regional pay for this occupation where the survey sample supports it — 12 of 12 cells on this page. The rest are withheld by ONS, and are shown as withheld with the reason, rather than left out.

Where do these pay figures come from?

The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, published by the Office for National Statistics. Figures are shown exactly as ONS publishes them — we do not adjust, model or fill them in, and every number on this page carries the series and period it came from.

Classified alongside this

Early education and childcare services managers · Education advisers and school inspectors · Education managers · Other educational professionals n.e.c