One of the biggest differences between a public school administrator and a private school administrator is the requirement to have an administrator license or professional certificate, which may be a master's degree or other graduate-level training. Anyone working as an administrator within a public school system must have a current license from whatever state they are working in. Each state has its own set of requirements for this license. This license must be kept current by attending workshops and attending classes. Administrators in a private school do not have to have a license. Private schools can have administrators of their choice without the restriction of having a license.
The day-to-day responsibilities are not much different for a public school administrator and a private school administrator. Both are responsible for the academic success of the school, communicating with the school community, supervising staff, meeting legal requirements and handling student discipline. Private school administrators are more involved in fund raising and tuition collection, while public school administrators have district requirements, such as testing, special education and district-required reports to complete.
There is a difference in salary between public and private school administrators. Public school administrators earn approximately $87,390 per year. This amount is based on years of experience, education and the district in which they work. A private school administrator averages $53,000 a year. Private schools are typically smaller and they do not require a license for their administrator, so the pay is usually less. There are also levels of administration, with an assistant administrator earning less and those working in a public high school earning more.
Another difference for private and public school administrators is the level of support. Within the public school system, there are administrators from other schools and superintendents who can answer questions and offer support to school administrators. Private school administrators often don't have that support. Typically, there is not a chain of private schools so that administrators can work together. There are often no regional directors or superintendents who can offer help. Private school administrators have the task of problem solving on their own and creating their own resources for support and information.