What Do Superintendents Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for superintendents?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what superintendents do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Superintendents Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about superintendents by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Superintendents plan, direct, or coordinate the academic, administrative, or auxiliary activities of kindergarten, elementary, or secondary schools.
Popular Job Titles For Superintendents
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Assistant Principals
- Principals
- High School Assistant Principals
- School Principals
- Elementary School Principals
- Elementary Principals
- Principal Engineers
- Middle School Principals
- Lead Teachers
- High School Principals
- Middle School Assistant Principals
- Elementary Assistant Principals
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for superintendents can be found.
Best Industries for Superintendents
Superintendents Jobs By Industry
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 75.1%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 21.7%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 0.9%
- Religious Organizations: 0.7%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 0.6%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 0.3%
- Other: 0.70000000000001%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of superintendents can be found working in the Education and Hospitals (Local Government) sector. In 2023, about 75.1% of all jobs for superintendents were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Elementary and Secondary Schools (21.7%), Education and Hospitals (State Government) (0.9%), Religious Organizations (0.7%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (0.6%) and Management of Companies and Enterprises (0.3%).
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What Do Superintendents Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what superintendents do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work superintendents do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that superintendents tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for superintendents, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Superintendents
Based on 81,657 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Superintendents
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Student Services | 8,905 | 11% |
| Special Education | 7,179 | 9% |
| Curriculum Development | 6,863 | 8% |
| Project Management | 5,218 | 6% |
| Lesson Planning | 4,357 | 5% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Superintendents
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 35,608 | 44% |
| Leadership | 30,925 | 38% |
| Teaching | 25,049 | 31% |
| Management | 23,943 | 29% |
| Planning | 19,914 | 24% |
Based on 81,657 job postings related to superintendents, student services was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 11% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for special education, curriculum development, project management, lesson planning and data analysis were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for superintendents, followed by leadership, teaching, management, planning and operations.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Student Services | 8,905 | 11% |
| Special Education | 7,179 | 9% |
| Curriculum Development | 6,863 | 8% |
| Project Management | 5,218 | 6% |
| Lesson Planning | 4,357 | 5% |
| Data Analysis | 4,340 | 5% |
| Marketing | 4,332 | 5% |
| Classroom Management | 3,951 | 5% |
| Office Equipment | 3,722 | 5% |
| Continuous Improvement Process | 3,695 | 5% |
| Child Development | 3,537 | 4% |
| Educational Administration | 3,492 | 4% |
| Public Relations | 3,315 | 4% |
| Preschool Education | 3,256 | 4% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 3,229 | 4% |
| Effective Communication | 3,180 | 4% |
| Accounting | 3,123 | 4% |
| Finance | 3,089 | 4% |
| Auditing | 3,083 | 4% |
| Student Information Systems | 3,038 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 35,608 | 44% |
| Leadership | 30,925 | 38% |
| Teaching | 25,049 | 31% |
| Management | 23,943 | 29% |
| Planning | 19,914 | 24% |
| Operations | 19,403 | 24% |
| Writing | 14,246 | 17% |
| Coordinating | 12,846 | 16% |
| Research | 11,527 | 14% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 11,375 | 14% |
| Problem Solving | 11,257 | 14% |
| Customer Service | 9,969 | 12% |
| Coaching | 8,850 | 11% |
| Scheduling | 8,349 | 10% |
| Organizational Skills | 8,103 | 10% |
| Administrative Functions | 7,662 | 9% |
| Presentations | 6,822 | 8% |
| Innovation | 6,773 | 8% |
| English Language | 6,600 | 8% |
| Mentorship | 6,561 | 8% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Superintendents
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Principals | 9,867 | 15.3% |
| Principals | 10,292 | 15.9% |
| High School Assistant Principals | 4,795 | 7.4% |
| School Principals | 3,086 | 4.8% |
| Elementary School Principals | 2,895 | 4.5% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was assistant principals, with 3,995 unique job postings. Principals were second, with 2,075 postings, followed by high school assistant principals, school principals and elementary school principals.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to superintendents.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Principals | 9,867 | 15.3% |
| Principals | 10,292 | 15.9% |
| High School Assistant Principals | 4,795 | 7.4% |
| School Principals | 3,086 | 4.8% |
| Elementary School Principals | 2,895 | 4.5% |
| Elementary Principals | 2,533 | 3.9% |
| Principal Engineers | 3,397 | 5.3% |
| Middle School Principals | 2,485 | 3.8% |
| Lead Teachers | 4,674 | 7.2% |
| High School Principals | 2,465 | 3.8% |
| Middle School Assistant Principals | 2,134 | 3.3% |
| Elementary Assistant Principals | 2,447 | 3.8% |
| Superintendents | 2,057 | 3.2% |
| Assistant Directors | 2,313 | 3.6% |
| Athletic Directors | 1,361 | 2.1% |
| Student Services Specialists | 2,123 | 3.3% |
| Teachers | 1,981 | 3.1% |
| Elementary School Assistant Principals | 1,349 | 2.1% |
| Assistant Superintendents | 1,161 | 1.8% |
| Student Success Coordinators | 1,227 | 1.9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for superintendents? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for superintendents.
How much do superintendents make?
Superintendents: How do you become one?
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