High school principals’ pay satisfaction is influenced by relevant peer salaries

Results from this study align with past findings regarding the critical importance of principal pay as it relates to employment. Specifically, high school principal candidates have been found to be influenced by salaries during the job selection process (Pounder and Merrill, 2004). As it relates to principal exit behaviours, principals with lower salaries relative to their peers have been found to more likely turnover from their schools (Baker et al., 2010). Relative pay is important because research has suggested that it is relative pay that impacts a principal’s pay satisfaction and not the absolute dollar amount (Young et al., 2009). 

Findings from this study support past findings and extend the literature by suggesting that high school principals’ pay satisfaction is influenced by relevant peer salaries and that principals that are less satisfied with their pay are more likely to intend to resign.