School Bus Monitor Salary in Boston, MA
School Bus Monitors in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $38,470 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,387 take-home, or $2,616 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median school bus monitor salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,436
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,385
- Medicare (1.45%)$558
- Massachusetts income tax$1,704
- Take-home pay$31,387
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
School Bus Monitor pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,690 | $16.20 | $27,785 | $2,315 |
| 25th percentile | $36,180 | $17.39 | $29,662 | $2,472 |
| Median (50th) | $38,470 | $18.50 | $31,387 | $2,616 |
| 75th percentile | $38,470 | $18.50 | $31,387 | $2,616 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,710 | $20.53 | $34,582 | $2,882 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,470 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median school bus monitor's $31,387 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,991 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
School Bus Monitor jobs are less concentrated in Boston, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for school bus monitors, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #15 of 27 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $41,720 | $34,365 | $31,561 |
| 2 | Syracuse, NY | $35,950 | $29,722 | $31,043 |
| 3 | St. Louis, MO | $34,880 | $29,504 | $31,028 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh, PA | $34,970 | $29,205 | $30,849 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $38,670 | $32,001 | $30,529 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $38,590 | $31,718 | $30,356 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $36,240 | $30,009 | $29,920 |
| 8 | Buffalo, NY | $34,460 | $28,605 | $29,845 |
| 15 | Boston, MA | $38,470 | $31,387 | $28,991 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 27 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a school bus monitor make in Boston, MA?
The median school bus monitor salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $38,470 a year, or about $18.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,180 and $38,470.
What is a school bus monitor’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $38,470 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $31,387 a year ($2,616 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,704 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a school bus monitor?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $35,100. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,991 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #15 of 27 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a school bus monitor afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 87% of a median school bus monitor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $110,150
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $108,190
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $96,740
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $89,060
- Bailiff — $79,570
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $78,180
- Transportation Security Screener — $76,130
- Firefighter — $73,990
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $57,890
- Security Guard — $44,990
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $44,840
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $37,180