Superintendent Pay, Stress, and Time Use: 2024-25

In regard to pay, the study discovered that the mean income of superintendents in 2024-25 was $169,343, or about a 2% increase over the previous year. The mean income just over one decade prior, in 2013, was $131,171, showing that superintendents’ wages have actually not kept pace with rising cost of living over the years, according to AASA.

Superintendent Income Trends

And although tiny area superintendents reported minimized degrees of tension this year compared to last, they kept in mind a decrease in favorable sensations towards their job compared to the year before. The portion of superintendents ages 60 and older fell from 19% in 2012 to simply 10% in the 2024-25 institution year. The information likewise showed a greater percent of superintendents ages 41-50 (34%) in 2024-25, contrasted to 30% in 2012. The mean age of a superintendent was 52.

The percent of superintendents ages 60 and older fell from 19% in 2012 to just 10% in the 2024-25 school year. The information also revealed a greater portion of superintendents ages 41-50 (34%) in 2024-25, contrasted to 30% in 2012. The typical age of a superintendent was 52.

Leaders of large areas, on the various other hand, provided a mixed feedback, stating that area budgets, educators’ psychological health and wellness and state liability needs were top areas of boosted anxiety contrasted to 2024.

Stressors by District Size

Most usual stress factors for superintendents differed by district dimension. Tiny area leaders said budgeting was the area creating the most agony, while large area superintendents pointed to the breach of political problems and opinions as their leading stress factor.

The findings originate from the American Institution District Panel’s survey of superintendents, which considers small areas as those with fewer than 3,000 pupils and huge districts as those with 10,000 or even more pupils.

Informa PLC’s authorized office is 5 Howick Area, London SW1P 1WG. TechTarget, Inc.’s authorized office is 275 Grove St. Newton, MA 02466.

. Amongst 13 groups of job-related stress factors, the leaders of small areas were less most likely in 2025 than in 2024 to select every task stressor that was listed, with the exemption of school board connections and institution board pressure.

Time Allocation Challenges

Small- and large-district superintendents state they need to be devoting most of their time to guideline, institution information, moms and dad interaction and interaction with institution team.
ATHVisions using Getty Images

Both small- and large-district superintendents said that guideline, college data, moms and dad interaction and interaction with institution staff are where they ought to be committing most of their time.

The 2025 survey results originated from superintendents in 208 areas. As a result of the small number of reactions, the report mainly concentrates on differences in between large and tiny areas, although leaders of medium-sized districts were additionally polled.

Declining Positive Feelings

And although small area superintendents reported reduced degrees of tension this year contrasted to last, they noted a decline in positive sensations toward their task contrasted to the year prior to. In spring 2024, 57% of tiny area leaders said that regardless of the stress and anxiety and disappointments, their work deserved it. In spring 2025, that figure shrank to 47%.

When asked about the activities that take up most of their time, leaders of tiny areas most generally stated managing school facility procedures and maintenance was the most taxing. Large area leaders mentioned time invested in interactions, particularly with college board participants.

Superintendents are reporting overall reduced degrees of stress this year contrasted to years prior, with leaders of small college systems showing better renovations to stress compared to superintendents from bigger districts, according to the State of the Superintendent record by Rand Corp