After becoming principal, walking the halls quickly becomes many a leader’s favorite part of the day—greeting students by name, offering encouragement to teachers, and feeling the pulse of the campus. But after years of success at the school level, some leaders start to wonder: What would it look like to shape the future of an entire district?
The answer often starts with earning superintendent certification. But is superintendent certification really worth it? In this article, we explore the numbers, responsibilities, and real-world impact behind this next step in educational leadership.
As of May 2025, the average school superintendent salary is $143,531.That’s a respectable number and appealing to many superintendent candidates, but as an average it doesn’t tell the whole story. A September 2022 report sourced from the Texas Education Agency showed some annual superintendent salaries approaching or exceeding $500,000. These salaries do not always correspond directly to student enrollment. Instead, they vary by school district.
Consider the top five Texas districts in terms of superintendent salary:
With more than 1,200 school districts across Texas, there are ample opportunities for qualified candidates—but competition is fierce. Most openings become available only when a current superintendent retires or moves on. Earning your superintendent certification through TEA makes you a viable contender. To do so, you must complete a Texas-approved educator preparation program (EPP).
While principals focus on the day-to-day operations of individual schools, superintendents oversee the entire district, making decisions that affect thousands of students and staff.
Here’s a quick look at some of the key responsibilities of a superintendent:
Stepping into this role means influencing far more than one school; it’s a chance to shape the educational experience of an entire community.
As a school principal, you unquestionably have the power to influence the lives of young people. As superintendent, your expertise in managing people, money, and other resources, carving out a vision for education in your district, engaging public officials and the greater community, and guiding your school board multiplies that influence exponentially.
At UT Permian Basin, we’re educators, too. We understand that you’re a passion-driven professional who strives to make a positive impact on as many students’ lives as possible. To quantify that potential, one Texas school district has an enrollment of nearly 200,000 students and several others are in or approaching the 100,000 range:
The reach is massive—and so is the potential for meaningful leadership. That reach also comes with tangible benefits: higher salaries, broader responsibilities, and greater professional prestige.
If you aspire to a superintendent role in Texas, you already know that one of the requirements is successful completion of an approved superintendent EPP. UT Permian Basin is here to help. Our online Superintendent Certification program is 100% focused on helping principals and assistant principals who are ready to move into a district-level leadership role prepare to become certified superintendents in Texas. (If you live outside of Texas, check with Dr. Rod Uzat to confirm that your state’s certification requirements align with our program.)
Though a search of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) website will reveal 122 EPPs in Texas, UT Permian Basin’s program offers some considerable advantages. One of few four-course programs in Texas that maintains a practicum component for its duration, our program is:
Once enrolled in our program, you can access our virtual classroom online from any location worldwide at any hour. You’ll pay a tuition rate that’s among the most affordable of any accredited university—approximately $6,255.84 plus applicable fees—a fraction of your future earning potential. You can finish the required 16 credits in as little as two semesters as you prepare to qualify for the professional role of a lifetime. And you can count on continued support from us with professional networking and dialogue opportunities after you successfully complete our program.
Given these facts and figures, it’s clear that applying to UT Permian Basin’s Superintendent Certification program is worth the investment in your future. Clear your path to the leadership position you want—apply now!
Sources:
https://tea.texas.gov/finance-and-grants/state-funding/superintendents-and-cfos
https://texasscorecard.com/state/texas-taxpayers-continue-to-fund-sky-high-superintendent-salaries/
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