School Bus Monitor Salary
School Bus Monitors earn a median $35,100 a year nationally. Protective Service Occupations
U.S. median
$35,100
$16.88 per hour
Range
$28,130 – $43,250
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
78,420
across the U.S.
School Bus Monitor take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$30,383
per year · effective tax rate 13.4%
$2,532Monthly
$1,266Twice a month
$1,169Every 2 weeks
$14.61Hourly
- Federal income tax$2,032
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,176
- Medicare (1.45%)$509
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$30,383
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,130 | $13.52 | $24,775 |
| 25th percentile | $31,760 | $15.27 | $27,699 |
| Median (50th) | $35,100 | $16.88 | $30,383 |
| 75th percentile | $37,760 | $18.15 | $32,520 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,250 | $20.79 | $36,931 |
Best cities for school bus monitors (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $41,720 | $34,365 | $31,561 | 2,220 |
| 2 | Syracuse, NY | $35,950 | $29,722 | $31,043 | 600 |
| 3 | St. Louis, MO | $34,880 | $29,504 | $31,028 | 1,140 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh, PA | $34,970 | $29,205 | $30,849 | 830 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $38,670 | $32,001 | $30,529 | 580 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $38,590 | $31,718 | $30,356 | 650 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $36,240 | $30,009 | $29,920 | 540 |
| 8 | Buffalo, NY | $34,460 | $28,605 | $29,845 | 1,290 |
| 9 | Providence, RI | $35,910 | $30,304 | $29,776 | 1,510 |
| 10 | Rochester, NY | $34,710 | $28,792 | $29,672 | 1,290 |
| 11 | Indianapolis, IN | $33,590 | $28,208 | $29,477 | 780 |
| 12 | Orlando, FL | $34,430 | $29,845 | $29,427 | 510 |
| 13 | Hartford, CT | $35,520 | $30,047 | $29,244 | 680 |
| 14 | Kansas City, MO | $31,500 | $26,947 | $29,118 | 690 |
| 15 | Boston, MA | $38,470 | $31,387 | $28,991 | 1,090 |
| 16 | Albany, NY | $34,780 | $28,845 | $28,970 | 690 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $35,040 | $29,667 | $28,715 | 1,030 |
| 18 | Philadelphia, PA | $34,620 | $28,934 | $28,214 | 2,550 |
| 19 | Kiryas Joel, NY | $37,130 | $30,606 | $27,971 | 730 |
| 20 | New York, NY | $37,340 | $30,763 | $27,330 | 16,260 |
| 21 | Chicago, IL | $33,890 | $27,878 | $26,910 | 5,210 |
| 22 | Wichita, KS | $27,790 | $23,714 | $26,661 | 460 |
| 23 | Houston, TX | $29,660 | $26,012 | $26,373 | 900 |
| 24 | Miami, FL | $34,440 | $29,853 | $26,151 | 830 |
| 25 | Jacksonville, FL | $29,390 | $25,795 | $25,929 | 600 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Washington, DC — $41,720
- Minneapolis, MN — $38,670
- Baltimore, MD — $38,590
- Boston, MA — $38,470
- New York, NY — $37,340
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $37,130
- Detroit, MI — $36,240
- Syracuse, NY — $35,950
- Providence, RI — $35,910
- Hartford, CT — $35,520
- Phoenix, AZ — $35,040
- Pittsburgh, PA — $34,970
- St. Louis, MO — $34,880
- Albany, NY — $34,780
- Rochester, NY — $34,710
School Bus Monitor salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $42,330 | $36,192 | $35,770 – $52,230 | 470 |
| District of Columbia | $41,720 | $34,365 | $36,990 – $42,740 | — |
| Oregon | $40,900 | $32,294 | $34,620 – $51,310 | 380 |
| Hawaii | $40,250 | $32,934 | $32,130 – $45,240 | 220 |
| Vermont | $39,020 | $32,659 | $34,900 – $54,530 | 70 |
| Maryland | $38,750 | $31,839 | $32,480 – $47,550 | 2,370 |
| Minnesota | $38,590 | $31,941 | $33,030 – $43,900 | 790 |
| North Dakota | $38,480 | $33,099 | $33,070 – $45,720 | 120 |
| California | $38,360 | $31,980 | $35,520 – $46,170 | 1,260 |
| Maine | $38,060 | $31,345 | $30,470 – $46,770 | 160 |
| Utah | $38,020 | $31,984 | $31,570 – $48,330 | 470 |
| New Hampshire | $37,620 | $32,408 | $22,950 – $47,060 | 120 |
| New York | $36,910 | $30,441 | $33,060 – $42,810 | 19,090 |
| Wyoming | $36,810 | $31,757 | $31,060 – $46,390 | 330 |
| Wisconsin | $36,640 | $30,789 | $29,130 – $43,410 | 310 |
| Delaware | $36,560 | $30,204 | $31,200 – $46,690 | 280 |
| Virginia | $36,510 | $30,231 | $28,220 – $46,020 | 1,920 |
| New Mexico | $36,250 | $30,715 | $30,230 – $64,750 | 330 |
| New Jersey | $36,100 | $30,640 | $32,220 – $43,570 | 6,100 |
| Massachusetts | $36,020 | $29,541 | $33,690 – $42,270 | 2,300 |
| Rhode Island | $35,910 | $30,304 | $31,200 – $44,460 | — |
| Connecticut | $35,350 | $29,918 | $34,010 – $49,570 | 1,520 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,290 | $29,452 | $29,040 – $41,720 | 3,180 |
| Nebraska | $34,750 | $29,400 | $28,870 – $47,400 | 480 |
| Montana | $34,740 | $29,218 | $30,620 – $44,510 | 200 |
| Arizona | $34,560 | $29,294 | $30,580 – $41,440 | 1,570 |
| South Dakota | $34,380 | $29,804 | $32,820 – $35,650 | 140 |
| Missouri | $34,220 | $29,005 | $28,600 – $36,600 | 1,530 |
| Florida | $34,110 | $29,587 | $28,220 – $39,650 | 4,080 |
| Alaska | $33,990 | $29,491 | $30,840 – $37,720 | 260 |
| Illinois | $33,840 | $27,840 | $31,200 – $38,390 | 6,930 |
| Indiana | $33,590 | $28,208 | $27,640 – $38,500 | 2,020 |
| Colorado | $33,540 | $28,362 | $30,800 – $37,020 | 150 |
| North Carolina | $32,970 | $27,865 | $27,650 – $39,080 | 1,360 |
| Iowa | $32,740 | $27,894 | $28,180 – $36,540 | 520 |
| Michigan | $32,480 | $27,148 | $28,630 – $42,700 | 1,860 |
| Idaho | $32,230 | $27,477 | $25,610 – $44,710 | 340 |
| Georgia | $30,130 | $25,449 | $17,590 – $37,380 | 2,870 |
| Kansas | $29,420 | $24,953 | $26,090 – $35,400 | 1,240 |
| Texas | $29,300 | $25,723 | $23,360 – $37,400 | 2,610 |
| Nevada | $29,230 | $25,666 | $25,130 – $40,260 | 160 |
| Arkansas | $28,260 | $23,993 | $23,160 – $41,190 | 780 |
| Kentucky | $28,220 | $23,979 | $19,820 – $34,940 | 370 |
| Alabama | $28,210 | $23,695 | $23,920 – $41,820 | 130 |
| Oklahoma | $28,130 | $24,055 | $17,830 – $35,230 | 720 |
| Ohio | $28,110 | $24,759 | $26,580 – $62,070 | 1,000 |
| Tennessee | $27,250 | $24,050 | $20,540 – $43,740 | 830 |
| South Carolina | $26,240 | $22,791 | $17,490 – $36,090 | 1,180 |
| Louisiana | $25,250 | $22,032 | $17,020 – $39,320 | 1,170 |
| Mississippi | $23,500 | $20,754 | $16,910 – $34,280 | 540 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a school bus monitor make?
The national median salary for school bus monitors is $35,100 a year ($16.88 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,130 and the top 10% earn over $43,250. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays school bus monitors the most?
Washington has the highest median pay at $42,330. After taxes and local prices, Washington, DC offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many school bus monitors are there in the U.S.?
About 78,420 people work as school bus monitors nationwide.
All 27 cities
- Albany, NY
- Atlanta, GA
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Buffalo, NY
- Chicago, IL
- Dallas, TX
- Detroit, MI
- Hartford, CT
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Jacksonville, FL
- Kansas City, MO
- Kiryas Joel, NY
- Miami, FL
- Minneapolis, MN
- New York, NY
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Providence, RI
- Rochester, NY
- St. Louis, MO
- Syracuse, NY
- Washington, DC
- Wichita, KS