Australian Education Pathways

School Principals

University degree Moderate growth · ANZSCO skill level 1 · occupation 1343

School Principals plan, organise, direct, control and coordinate the educational and administrative aspects of primary, middle or intermediate, and secondary schools including physical and human resources.

People employed30,000
Projected growth+8.3%over 5 years (to 2030)
Recent growth+3%per year
Median age50
Female share66%

How do you get there?

Highest qualification held by people in this job: 96.5% university · 2.7% vet / tafe · 0.3% school / entry (ABS Census via JSA).

Find a university ▸

Where these jobs are

NSW 38.7% · VIC 19.7% · QLD 16.4% · WA 13.1% · SA 6.4% · ACT 2.3% · NT 2% · TAS 1.4%

Top industries

Education and Training.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation profiles (Feb 2026) + Employment Projections (May 2025–2035). © Commonwealth of Australia, CC BY 4.0. Figures are national estimates.