Economic uncertainty is eroding superintendents’ long-term purchasing power, adding to leaders’ anxieties about their district’s financial condition. Superintendent retention remains high despite these pressures.
More than 38% of superintendents say their district’s “economic condition” is declining, according to The School Superintendents Association’s annual . Leaders are feeling more fiscal strain this school year in particular.
In districts with fewer than 1,000 students, financial distress is higher, according to the data. Superintendents attribute economic disparities to enrollment and local revenue capacity.
Despite these tensions, roughly 90% of superintendents intend to stay with their current district this upcoming school year, a trend that’s held steady over the last four years. The average superintendent now has more than seven years of experience in the superintendency and more than five years in their current district, challenging assumptions about nationwide turnover.
Meanwhile, superintendent salaries are on the rise. This school year, the mean superintendent salary is more than $178,000, nearly $10,000 more than last year. Salaries vary significantly based on enrollment size. See the table below:
| District Enrollment | Median Superintendent Base Salary ($) |
|---|---|
| Fewer than 300 students | $117,850 |
| 300999 students | $144,342 |
| 1,0002,999 students | $173,163 |
| 3,0004,999 students | $214,100 |
| 5,0009,999 students | $227,000 |
| 10,00024,999 students | $248,000 |
| 25,00049,999 students | $295,000 |
| 50,00099,999 students | $363,982 |
| 100,000 or more students | $254,000 |
Demographic shifts
The superinendency is gradually becoming younger and more female, the data suggests. More leaders are entering the profession in their 40s and early 50s, while the share of superintendents over the age of 60 continues to decline.
Women also make up more than a quarter of the nation’s superintendents and earn nearly as much as their male counterparts. Female leaders now earn about 98% of what male leaders make on average.
Other key metrics:
- More women leaders hold a doctorate (50.63%) than men(40.52%).
- A higher percentage of Black or African American leaders hold a doctorate (80.41%) compared to white (41%), Hispanic or Latino leaders (57.7%).
- Only 14% of superintendents have an incentive/performance clause or a defined provision award for accomplishing a predetermined goal.
- More than 60% of districts used legal counsel in contract negotiations compared to only 37% of superintendents who used legal counsel to negotiate their contracts.
Read the report .
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