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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Overview

Open roles98
Top employerGenentech
Top cityCharlotte, NC
Cities hiring24
Work type48% Hybrid
Top industryEducation

Showing 5 of 98+ Principal jobs

Principal Engineer - Design Services
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Added 2d ago
Principal Engineer - Design Services
City of Durham, NC
Durham, North Carolina
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
Specialized Engineering
$87k - $135k/yr
Bachelor's degree in engineering

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Principal Enterprise Architect - Fraud & AML Technology
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Added 2d ago
Principal Enterprise Architect - Fraud & AML Technology
Information Technology Senior Management Forum
Charlotte, North Carolina
Cloud Architecture
Solutions Architecture
Technical Product & Program Management
Technical Program Management
$157k - $262k/yr
Bachelor's degree in information technology
51-200

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Principal Account Executive- Commercial Print
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Added 2d ago
Principal Account Executive- Commercial Print
Konica Minolta Business Solutions
Charlotte, North Carolina
Academic & Educational Administration
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Human Resources
$38k - $93k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree
5,001-10,000

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Principal Electrical Engineer
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Added 3d ago
Principal Electrical Engineer
Clutter
Raleigh, North Carolina
Data Science & Analytics
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
$163k - $218k/yr
Remote (US)
501-1,000

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Associate Principal Scientist - Cell-Based
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Added 3d ago
Associate Principal Scientist - Cell-Based
BioAgilytix Labs
Durham, North Carolina
Academic & Educational Administration
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Human Resources
Master's degree
1,001-5,000

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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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Principal Jobs by City in North Carolina

Where North Carolina roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Davidson
6 jobs
Holly Springs
6 jobs
Greensboro
5 jobs
Morrisville
4 jobs
Winston-Salem
4 jobs
Cary
3 jobs

Principal Job Market in North Carolina

A snapshot from current North Carolina openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Genentech6 open roles
Trane Technologies6 open roles
Collins Aerospace4 open roles

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.

Find Principal Jobs