Principal Jobs in North Carolina
Principal jobs in North Carolina are in steady demand, with the most active hiring concentrated in K-12 public school systems, charter networks, and private independent schools serving a growing statewide student population at every level from assistant principal to district-level leadership. Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Wake County, and Guilford County are the largest hiring metros, and well-established employers such as Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Wake County Public School System, and Durham Public Schools consistently bring on principals with deep instructional leadership backgrounds. The most sought-after specialties in North Carolina right now are elementary school leadership, turnaround and low-performing school improvement, and STEM-focused campus administration. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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$87,367.00 - $135,428.00 Annually
101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC
Full time with benefits
Flexible/Hybrid
26-06188
Environmental & Street Services
10/30/2026
Continuous
Position Description
Work. Serve. Thrive. With the City of Durham
Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.
Salary Range: $87,367 - $135,428
Hiring Range: $87,367 - $104,840
Hours: 8:00am - 5:00pm, Monday - Friday
This position is eligible for a one-time $5,000 sign-on bonus that will be paid upon successful completion of the new hire’s six-month probationary period. Internal promotional/transfer hires are not eligible.
***This position will also be posted as a Senior Engineer (CE II). Only one position will be filled depending on qualifications. You must apply for both positions to be considered for either the Sr. Engineer (CE II) or the Principal Engineer (CE III).
Top-notch management, highly qualified, competent staff and opportunities for career advancement and professional success make the City of Durham’s Environmental and Street Services a great place to work. We create the foundation on which Durham is built, using innovative methods that support the City’s growth and enhance our quality of life. If growing professionally while serving your community is for you, bring your skills to Durham!
To prepare complex professional civil engineering work performed in the planning, surveying, design, review, contracting, inspection, field supervision, and maintenance of multiple types of municipal engineering projects and systems. These types of systems include but are not limited to roads, water systems, sewer systems, stormwater conveyance systems, stormwater management systems, wastewater treatment systems, water treatment systems, reservoir and pumping systems. Other duties include providing administrative direction to staff, attending meetings on projects with internal and external customers, teaching and instruction of others in entry and advanced level civil engineering work, and development of entry level management skill sets. Work is performed under limited direct supervision.
Duties/Responsibilities
- Responsible for the preparation of professional civil engineering work performed in the planning, surveying, design, review, contracting, inspection, field supervision, and maintenance of multiple types of municipal engineering projects and systems. Develops entry level management skill sets.
- Oversees data analysis by obtaining electronic data; reviewing raw data for accuracy; analyzing data for trends; and developing written reports.
- Attends meetings on all types of engineering systems and interacts with internal and external customers to provide assistance as needed.
- Provides technical and administrative support to supervising professional engineer; responding to and investigating questions or concerns; and typing and sending technical correspondence.
- Completes special projects by preparing presentations; participating in seminars; and updating standards & procedures.
Minimum Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a directly related field.
- Five years of professional engineering experience in the area of assignment.
- A North Carolina Professional Engineer Registration or Professional Engineer Registration from another state.
- Valid North Carolina Class C Driver’s License with a satisfactory driving record acquired within a time frame established by the City.
Additional Preferred Skills
- Prefer candidates with four (4) or more years in site civil engineering as a professional engineer along with some municipal experience; or any equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. This includes design experience in water lines, sewer lines, storm drainage systems, street plan and profiles, and sidewalks.
- Experience in acquiring local permits (water, sewer, stormwater, stream buffer, NCDOT, railroad, etc.), highly desirable.
- Must be proficient in AUTOCAD 3D 2012 or newer.
- Must be able to design waterlines, sewer lines, streets, storm pipe systems.
- At least one (1) year of supervisory or management experience.
Benefits – General Full-Time Employees
- 12-13 paid holidays per year
- 13 standard work days of vacation per year
- 13 standard work days of sick leave per year, which accumulates indefinitely; sick leave may be used toward early retirement
- 2 weeks paid military leave per year
- Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans
- State and City retirement plans
- Short and long term disability plans
- Paid temporary disability leave for specified conditions
- City contribution of 13.6% into the N.C. State Retirement System
- Paid funeral leave
- Employee Assistance Program - personal and family counseling
- Paid life insurance equal to annual salary
- 48 hours for volunteer work each year*
- 4 hours parental leave each year
- Workman's Compensation Insurance
- 457 Deferred Compensation Plans
- 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
- State retirement plan
- 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
- State retirement plan effective first day of the month following date of hire
- Health insurance effective first day of the month following date of hire
- Dental and life insurance, after one year of service
- Pro-rated vacation, pro-rated sick, pro-rated floating holiday, parttime holiday pay (based on scheduled hours for that day) after one year of service
Durham, North Carolina, 27701
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Where North Carolina roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Principal Job Market in North Carolina
A snapshot from current North Carolina openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Manufacturing
- Electronics & Hardware
What North Carolina Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in principal jobs across North Carolina.
- Active North Carolina School Executive license issued or recognized by the NC State Board of Education
- Master's degree in educational leadership, administration, or a closely related field
- Minimum of three years of classroom teaching experience in an accredited school setting
- Demonstrated experience developing and evaluating instructional programs and curriculum alignment
- Proven ability to lead and manage staff, including conducting formal teacher evaluations
- Familiarity with North Carolina Standard Course of Study and state accountability measures
Principal Jobs in North Carolina: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a principal in North Carolina?
To become a principal in North Carolina, you must hold a North Carolina School Executive license, which is issued by the North Carolina State Board of Education. Candidates typically complete an approved educational leadership preparation program at a North Carolina university, earn a master's degree, and satisfy a supervised internship requirement. The license is tied to specific grade-band endorsements such as elementary, middle, or high school, so candidates should confirm which endorsement matches their target position.
Which companies hire principals in North Carolina?
Employers hiring principals in North Carolina right now include Genentech, Trane Technologies, and Collins Aerospace, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. North Carolina's mix of large urban districts, fast-growing suburban systems in the Research Triangle, and an expanding charter sector means openings appear regularly well beyond the largest school systems.
Which North Carolina cities have the most principal jobs?
The cities with the most principal openings in North Carolina are Charlotte, Raleigh, and Durham. Charlotte and Raleigh lead because they anchor the state's two largest school districts and are surrounded by fast-growing suburban communities that are continually opening new campuses, while cities like Greensboro reflect Guilford County's size as the third-largest district and its ongoing administrative turnover.
Are there remote principal jobs in North Carolina?
Yes, but they're rare. Principal roles are inherently on-site because the work centers on daily school leadership, staff supervision, and student safety. About 76% of principal openings tied to North Carolina are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those positions tend to involve virtual school administration, district-level instructional coaching, or online charter campus leadership rather than traditional building-based roles.
How can I get hired as a principal in North Carolina with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing an assistant principal role first, which requires the same North Carolina School Executive license but typically accepts candidates with limited administrative experience. Large North Carolina districts such as Wake County Public School System and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools run internal leadership pipelines and aspiring principal programs that recruit high-performing teachers into administrative internships. Holding the NC School Executive license, completing a university-affiliated leadership residency, and building a record as a department chair or instructional coach are the credentials that most reliably open that door.
Where can I find and apply to principal jobs in North Carolina?
You can find and apply to principal jobs in North Carolina on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from school districts, charter networks, and private schools across the state. Search the listings, find roles that match your experience and license endorsement, and apply directly to the positions that fit.
See All 98 Principal Jobs in North Carolina
Find roles in North Carolina that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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