School Bus Monitor Salary in Chicago, IL
School Bus Monitors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $33,890 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,878 take-home, or $2,323 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median school bus monitor salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,887
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,101
- Medicare (1.45%)$491
- Illinois income tax$1,533
- Take-home pay$27,878
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.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
School Bus Monitor pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 25th percentile | $31,640 | $15.21 | $26,181 | $2,182 |
| Median (50th) | $33,890 | $16.29 | $27,878 | $2,323 |
| 75th percentile | $35,090 | $16.87 | $28,783 | $2,399 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,210 | $18.37 | $31,135 | $2,595 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,890 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 school bus monitor's $27,878 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,910 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 2.3× 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
Chicago, IL ranks #3 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 Chicago, IL?
The median school bus monitor salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $33,890 a year, or about $16.29 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,640 and $35,090.
What is a school bus monitor’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $33,890 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $27,878 a year ($2,323 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,533 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a school bus monitor?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $35,100. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,910 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #3 of 3 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a school bus monitor 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) — 66% of a median school bus monitor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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