School Bus Monitor Salary in Philadelphia, PA
School Bus Monitors in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $34,620 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,934 take-home, or $2,411 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median school bus monitor salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,974
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,146
- Medicare (1.45%)$502
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,063
- Take-home pay$28,934
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $1,295 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $27,640 ($2,303 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
School Bus Monitor pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,220 | $15.49 | $27,080 | $2,257 |
| 25th percentile | $32,220 | $15.49 | $27,080 | $2,257 |
| Median (50th) | $34,620 | $16.64 | $28,934 | $2,411 |
| 75th percentile | $37,760 | $18.15 | $31,361 | $2,613 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,380 | $20.38 | $34,931 | $2,911 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,620 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median school bus monitor's $28,934 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,214 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Philadelphia, PA has 1.7× the national concentration of school bus monitor jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for school bus monitors, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #1 of 3 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $34,620 | $28,934 | $28,214 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $37,340 | $30,763 | $27,330 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $33,890 | $27,878 | $26,910 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 3 metros →
About the job: school bus monitors
Maintain order among students on a school bus. Duties include helping students safely board and exit and communicating behavioral problems. May perform pretrip and posttrip inspections and prepare for and assist in emergency evacuations.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -1.9% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a school bus monitor make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median school bus monitor salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $34,620 a year, or about $16.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $32,220 and $37,760.
What is a school bus monitor’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $34,620 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $28,934 a year ($2,411 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,063 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a school bus monitor?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $35,100. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,214 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #1 of 3 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a school bus monitor afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 63% of a median school bus monitor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $119,540
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $89,580
- Firefighter — $78,050
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $67,200
- Security Guard — $37,450
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $37,350
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $35,060
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $32,220