Crossing Guard and Flagger Salary
Crossing Guards and Flaggers earn a median $38,100 a year nationally. Protective Service Occupations
U.S. median
$38,100
$18.32 per hour
Range
$30,840 – $61,690
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
94,360
across the U.S.
▲1.1%
Pay trend: The median for crossing guards and flaggers in the U.S. rose from $37,700 (May 2024) to $38,100 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 1.3%.
What crossing guards and flaggers do
Guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as streets, schools, railroad crossings, or construction sites.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.5% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 17,300
Employment of crossing guards and flaggers is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 17,300 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Crossing Guard and Flagger take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$32,793
per year · effective tax rate 13.9%
$2,733Monthly
$1,366Twice a month
$1,261Every 2 weeks
$15.77Hourly
- Federal income tax$2,392
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,362
- Medicare (1.45%)$552
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$32,793
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,840 | $14.83 | $26,960 |
| 25th percentile | $34,430 | $16.55 | $29,845 |
| Median (50th) | $38,100 | $18.32 | $32,793 |
| 75th percentile | $47,540 | $22.86 | $40,378 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,690 | $29.66 | $51,748 |
Best cities for crossing guards and flaggers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $55,700 | $44,819 | $39,465 | 2,500 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $43,440 | $35,335 | $31,392 | 13,930 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $37,350 | $31,044 | $30,271 | 4,300 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Los Angeles, CA — $55,700
- New York, NY — $43,440
- Philadelphia, PA — $37,350
Crossing Guard and Flagger salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $60,230 | −1.2% | $50,575 | $45,960 – $61,810 | 50 |
| California | $50,610 | +2.6% | $41,101 | $35,270 – $81,440 | 9,390 |
| Washington | $48,940 | −18.0% | $41,503 | $40,280 – $78,430 | 3,340 |
| Minnesota | $48,100 | −1.0% | $39,074 | $34,240 – $57,890 | 260 |
| Oregon | $47,110 | −0.1% | $36,740 | $37,940 – $80,040 | 2,250 |
| Wyoming | $47,070 | +29.3% | $40,001 | $32,110 – $47,070 | 160 |
| South Dakota | $46,940 | −6.6% | $39,896 | $29,680 – $53,280 | 60 |
| New Hampshire | $45,980 | +2.3% | $39,125 | $35,090 – $46,210 | 440 |
| Vermont | $45,410 | −0.6% | $37,580 | $43,520 – $48,110 | 340 |
| New York | $44,730 | +1.2% | $36,302 | $35,300 – $62,430 | 10,430 |
| Massachusetts | $43,460 | +6.0% | $35,147 | $34,770 – $92,660 | 1,700 |
| Hawaii | $42,780 | −20.7% | $34,790 | $35,360 – $54,690 | 230 |
| Connecticut | $41,950 | +9.0% | $34,924 | $34,010 – $99,760 | 1,670 |
| New Jersey | $41,600 | −1.6% | $34,855 | $32,830 – $50,890 | 7,270 |
| Iowa | $41,240 | +4.7% | $34,401 | $32,130 – $70,520 | 170 |
| District of Columbia | $40,800 | +3.0% | $33,681 | $36,400 – $47,210 | 520 |
| Maine | $40,140 | −4.7% | $32,896 | $36,610 – $46,170 | 1,140 |
| Idaho | $40,060 | +0.1% | $33,353 | $34,730 – $61,190 | 470 |
| Illinois | $38,990 | +0.4% | $31,723 | $31,200 – $79,880 | 2,240 |
| Nebraska | $37,990 | +2.0% | $31,856 | $28,080 – $45,570 | 110 |
| Colorado | $37,620 | −0.1% | $31,461 | $33,510 – $49,640 | 2,810 |
| Virginia | $37,560 | +0.5% | $31,014 | $30,160 – $47,060 | 1,940 |
| Arizona | $37,440 | +10.1% | $31,536 | $30,580 – $45,760 | 2,170 |
| Indiana | $37,440 | +3.7% | $31,188 | $27,970 – $65,140 | 2,230 |
| Ohio | $37,440 | +7.4% | $32,016 | $28,180 – $61,690 | 2,700 |
| Michigan | $36,540 | +17.1% | $30,238 | $26,810 – $46,410 | 2,150 |
| Delaware | $36,500 | +1.1% | $30,159 | $32,690 – $45,500 | 580 |
| Tennessee | $35,960 | −4.8% | $31,074 | $32,610 – $48,530 | 1,460 |
| Maryland | $35,850 | −1.2% | $29,646 | $31,200 – $58,750 | 3,420 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,810 | −1.2% | $29,854 | $30,680 – $59,190 | 9,410 |
| Florida | $35,730 | +0.7% | $30,889 | $29,170 – $43,410 | 5,690 |
| Wisconsin | $35,580 | −3.3% | $29,984 | $28,060 – $48,490 | 990 |
| Utah | $35,480 | +2.9% | $30,058 | $28,310 – $43,080 | 1,890 |
| Kansas | $35,440 | +8.3% | $29,477 | $28,290 – $43,520 | 180 |
| Kentucky | $34,450 | +1.7% | $28,772 | $32,140 – $38,940 | 420 |
| Georgia | $34,230 | −1.8% | $28,530 | $21,550 – $46,920 | 2,030 |
| North Carolina | $33,730 | −4.4% | $28,445 | $29,500 – $36,150 | 2,760 |
| Missouri | $33,560 | +1.1% | $28,505 | $28,600 – $52,070 | 150 |
| Texas | $33,350 | +1.9% | $28,977 | $25,330 – $42,760 | 2,830 |
| West Virginia | $32,800 | +3.1% | $27,676 | $29,720 – $80,280 | 1,190 |
| South Carolina | $32,690 | +0.6% | $27,642 | $28,690 – $76,020 | 1,050 |
| Montana | $32,600 | −22.9% | $27,599 | $28,300 – $85,080 | 70 |
| Nevada | $31,480 | −4.2% | $27,474 | $26,770 – $48,060 | 1,500 |
| New Mexico | $31,460 | +1.1% | $27,060 | $31,450 – $42,650 | 510 |
| Rhode Island | $31,200 | −27.3% | $26,696 | $31,200 – $62,370 | — |
| Arkansas | $30,830 | +0.8% | $25,962 | $22,880 – $34,990 | — |
| Alabama | $29,190 | +14.6% | $24,440 | $19,360 – $43,170 | 250 |
| Oklahoma | $28,610 | +1.1% | $24,426 | $22,220 – $35,970 | 130 |
| Louisiana | $25,450 | +10.7% | $22,191 | $15,080 – $44,240 | 440 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| School Bus Monitor | $35,100 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.9% |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $42,540 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.0% |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,580 | No formal educational credential | +5.5% |
| Transportation Security Screener | $66,770 | High school diploma or equivalent | -4.2% |
| Security Guard | $38,020 | High school diploma or equivalent | +0.9% |
| Gambling Surveillance Officer and Gambling Investigator | $43,370 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.8% |
| Animal Control Worker | $45,660 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.0% |
| Private Detective and Investigator | $51,220 | High school diploma or equivalent | +5.5% |
| Parking Enforcement Worker | $46,730 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.1% |
| First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers | $55,940 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.7% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a crossing guard and flagger make?
The national median salary for crossing guards and flaggers is $38,100 a year ($18.32 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $30,840 and the top 10% earn over $61,690. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays crossing guards and flaggers the most?
North Dakota has the highest median pay at $60,230. After taxes and local prices, Los Angeles, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many crossing guards and flaggers are there in the U.S.?
About 94,360 people work as crossing guards and flaggers nationwide.