Crossing Guard and Flagger Salary in Chicago, IL
Crossing Guards and Flaggers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $38,990 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,723 take-home, or $2,644 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median crossing guard and flagger salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,499
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,417
- Medicare (1.45%)$565
- Illinois income tax$1,785
- Take-home pay$31,723
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Crossing Guard and Flagger pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,850 | $15.31 | $26,340 | $2,195 |
| 25th percentile | $35,420 | $17.03 | $29,031 | $2,419 |
| Median (50th) | $38,990 | $18.75 | $31,723 | $2,644 |
| 75th percentile | $49,600 | $23.85 | $39,723 | $3,310 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,940 | $35.07 | $56,678 | $4,723 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,990 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median crossing guard and flagger's $31,723 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,622 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Crossing Guard and Flagger jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for crossing guards and flaggers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #23 of 38 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus, OH | $61,690 | $50,834 | $53,246 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $58,810 | $47,091 | $42,646 |
| 3 | San Diego, CA | $55,360 | $44,571 | $39,836 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $55,700 | $44,819 | $39,465 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $51,930 | $42,065 | $39,435 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $50,020 | $42,371 | $38,126 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $54,580 | $44,001 | $38,059 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $41,600 | $35,606 | $36,959 |
| 23 | Chicago, IL | $38,990 | $31,723 | $30,622 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 38 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a crossing guard and flagger make in Chicago, IL?
The median crossing guard and flagger salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $38,990 a year, or about $18.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,420 and $49,600.
What is a crossing guard and flagger’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $38,990 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $31,723 a year ($2,644 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,785 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a crossing guard and flagger?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $38,100. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,622 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #23 of 38 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a crossing guard and flagger afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 58% of a median crossing guard and flagger’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $135,080
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $126,200
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $107,810
- First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers — $105,450
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $102,260
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $84,550
- Firefighter — $82,820
- Transportation Security Screener — $70,570
- Private Detective and Investigator — $68,310
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $58,990
- Bailiff — $50,660
- Security Guard — $39,990