SBO Recruitment & Selection

School Business Official Recruitment & Selection

Congratulations on your decision to bring the experience and expertise of a school business official (SBO) to your district.

At a time when resources are limited, hiring an SBO is a solid investment in the success of your organization. Illinois ASBO is committed to walking with you step by step through the process of finding the right person for your district. Once they are hired, we are dedicated to the continued success of your school business official in realizing their potential, as they connect to a vast array of resources and a network of fellow professionals.

Six Steps to Hiring a School Business Official

Download and complete this SBO Task and Function Checklist to understand the scope of duties that you are looking for your school business official to perform. From there, you will have a framework to refer to as you continue on to the next steps in the process.

What title should I choose for my School Business Official?

Below is a set of typical titles and qualifications of SBOs based on their scope of responsibilities. Refer to the School Business Official Task and Function Checklist to understand what responsibilities you would like your school business official to perform. For example, if you checked “Key Decision Maker and/or Evaluator” and/or “Directs, Oversees and/or Supervises” for a wide scope of functions, consider a title that reflects this. Please note that titles and scope of responsibilities vary significantly from district to district. This is not intended for the purposes of re-classifying current school business professionals.

*Note: To comply with TRS Guidelines, please add /CSBO to the title of any position requiring a CSBO endorsement.

What are the salary ranges for School Business Officials?

Based on the 2025 Employment Information System (EIS) data and job categories, the annual salary ranges based on title only are:

Assistant Superintendent
	Low	High	Average
Zone 1	$103,483	$278,191	$172,597
Zone 2	$94,656	$289,818	$137,190
Zone 3	$83,869	$168,572	$133,767
Zone 4	$104,354	$193,565	$130,360
Zone 5	$80,000	$178,817	$126,993
Zone 6	$80,750	$250,000	$131,759
Chief School Business Official (CSBO)
	Low	High	Average
Zone 1	$53.904	$276,842	$163,909
Zone 2	$65,253	$188,381	$138,543
Zone 3	$73,000	$177,117	$130,000
Zone 4	$90,915	$179,477	$120,914
Zone 5	$83,200	$152,276	$128,211
Zone 6	$67,384	$154,000	$91,341

As a starting point you can use to create a job description that fits the role you want your SBO to play, download and customize one of the following sample job descriptions:

Asst. Superintendent for Business
Business Manager/Dir. of Finance
CFO/Comptroller

*Note: Any position where a CSBO endorsement is required must also reflect CSBO in the title (i.e. Business Manager/CSBO; Assistant Supt. for Business/CSBO; CFO/CSBO; etc.)

Once you have decided the role of your school business official and selected your desired qualifications, you have many options to find the best possible candidate for the position.

OPTION 1 > "Grow Your Own" SBO Through the School Business Management Program

Do you already have someone on staff that you think could excel in a school business management position?

Statewide, many districts located in areas where school business officials are not as readily available have taken the opportunity to “train their own” through enrolling them in the Master’s Degree Program in School Business Management that is offered through a partnership between Northern Illinois University and Illinois ASBO. Those who already possess a Master’s Degree and required administrative experience can study for their Type 75 Certificate with Chief School Business Official Endorsement.

OPTION 2 > Recruiting & Posting the Position Online

A great place to start is by using the job banks that are available through Associations in Illinois that serve school business administrators.

Illinois ASBO Job Bank: Illinois ASBO updates their job listings on a regular basis and is a go-to resource for business officials who are in the job market. As the premier Association in Illinois for school business management, this is your best place to start. Access Job Bank >
ASBO Career Central: For a broader search of candidates from in-state and out-of-state, consider posting through ASBO International’s career site. Learn More >
IASB Executive Searches: The Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) can help you facilitate a search for candidates for assistant superintendent and business manager positions and work with your board throughout the process. Learn More >
Illinois Education Job Bank: This more comprehensive education jobs site hosted by the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) allows you to post a position as well as search for candidates who meet all your qualifications. Learn More >

Download and customize this list of Sample Interview Questions to get a starting point to determine what questions you would like to have answered at different stages in the interview and selection process.

Once you have invested in a school business official as a member of your administrative team, continue to invest in their success through their development and training. The School Business Official Roadmap to Success provides a recommended path of professional development.

Download the Superintendent's Guide to Recruitment, Hiring & Evaluation for more on the value of school business officials and resources to help you through every step of the hiring process.

Download the Guide