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.
▲0.3%
Pay trend: The median for school bus monitors in the U.S. rose from $34,980 (May 2024) to $35,100 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 2.1%.
What school bus monitors do
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)
- Openings per year
- 13,400
Employment of school bus monitors is projected to shrink 1.9% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 13,400 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
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 | Philadelphia, PA | $34,620 | $28,934 | $28,214 | 2,550 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $37,340 | $30,763 | $27,330 | 16,260 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $33,890 | $27,878 | $26,910 | 5,210 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $37,340
- Philadelphia, PA — $34,620
- Chicago, IL — $33,890
School Bus Monitor salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $42,330 | +1.5% | $36,192 | $35,770 – $52,230 | 470 |
| District of Columbia | $41,720 | +14.1% | $34,365 | $36,990 – $42,740 | — |
| Oregon | $40,900 | +8.1% | $32,294 | $34,620 – $51,310 | 380 |
| Hawaii | $40,250 | +1.1% | $32,934 | $32,130 – $45,240 | 220 |
| Vermont | $39,020 | +4.2% | $32,659 | $34,900 – $54,530 | 70 |
| Maryland | $38,750 | +5.0% | $31,839 | $32,480 – $47,550 | 2,370 |
| Minnesota | $38,590 | −3.5% | $31,941 | $33,030 – $43,900 | 790 |
| North Dakota | $38,480 | — | $33,099 | $33,070 – $45,720 | 120 |
| California | $38,360 | −2.1% | $31,980 | $35,520 – $46,170 | 1,260 |
| Maine | $38,060 | +22.7% | $31,345 | $30,470 – $46,770 | 160 |
| Utah | $38,020 | +1.3% | $31,984 | $31,570 – $48,330 | 470 |
| New Hampshire | $37,620 | +6.3% | $32,408 | $22,950 – $47,060 | 120 |
| New York | $36,910 | −0.3% | $30,441 | $33,060 – $42,810 | 19,090 |
| Wyoming | $36,810 | −5.1% | $31,757 | $31,060 – $46,390 | 330 |
| Wisconsin | $36,640 | −1.2% | $30,789 | $29,130 – $43,410 | 310 |
| Delaware | $36,560 | −2.7% | $30,204 | $31,200 – $46,690 | 280 |
| Virginia | $36,510 | +9.3% | $30,231 | $28,220 – $46,020 | 1,920 |
| New Mexico | $36,250 | +4.4% | $30,715 | $30,230 – $64,750 | 330 |
| New Jersey | $36,100 | +1.1% | $30,640 | $32,220 – $43,570 | 6,100 |
| Massachusetts | $36,020 | −0.1% | $29,541 | $33,690 – $42,270 | 2,300 |
| Rhode Island | $35,910 | +0.3% | $30,304 | $31,200 – $44,460 | — |
| Connecticut | $35,350 | −4.4% | $29,918 | $34,010 – $49,570 | 1,520 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,290 | +13.1% | $29,452 | $29,040 – $41,720 | 3,180 |
| Nebraska | $34,750 | +3.7% | $29,400 | $28,870 – $47,400 | 480 |
| Montana | $34,740 | +4.5% | $29,218 | $30,620 – $44,510 | 200 |
| Arizona | $34,560 | +1.1% | $29,294 | $30,580 – $41,440 | 1,570 |
| South Dakota | $34,380 | — | $29,804 | $32,820 – $35,650 | 140 |
| Missouri | $34,220 | +7.8% | $29,005 | $28,600 – $36,600 | 1,530 |
| Florida | $34,110 | +4.1% | $29,587 | $28,220 – $39,650 | 4,080 |
| Alaska | $33,990 | −5.5% | $29,491 | $30,840 – $37,720 | 260 |
| Illinois | $33,840 | −4.3% | $27,840 | $31,200 – $38,390 | 6,930 |
| Indiana | $33,590 | +6.1% | $28,208 | $27,640 – $38,500 | 2,020 |
| Colorado | $33,540 | −10.3% | $28,362 | $30,800 – $37,020 | 150 |
| North Carolina | $32,970 | −0.3% | $27,865 | $27,650 – $39,080 | 1,360 |
| Iowa | $32,740 | −4.2% | $27,894 | $28,180 – $36,540 | 520 |
| Michigan | $32,480 | −1.3% | $27,148 | $28,630 – $42,700 | 1,860 |
| Idaho | $32,230 | +21.4% | $27,477 | $25,610 – $44,710 | 340 |
| Georgia | $30,130 | +1.8% | $25,449 | $17,590 – $37,380 | 2,870 |
| Kansas | $29,420 | +0.3% | $24,953 | $26,090 – $35,400 | 1,240 |
| Texas | $29,300 | +0.4% | $25,723 | $23,360 – $37,400 | 2,610 |
| Nevada | $29,230 | +2.3% | $25,666 | $25,130 – $40,260 | 160 |
| Arkansas | $28,260 | −4.0% | $23,993 | $23,160 – $41,190 | 780 |
| Kentucky | $28,220 | +1.6% | $23,979 | $19,820 – $34,940 | 370 |
| Alabama | $28,210 | +6.1% | $23,695 | $23,920 – $41,820 | 130 |
| Oklahoma | $28,130 | +1.1% | $24,055 | $17,830 – $35,230 | 720 |
| Ohio | $28,110 | −18.3% | $24,759 | $26,580 – $62,070 | 1,000 |
| Tennessee | $27,250 | −1.4% | $24,050 | $20,540 – $43,740 | 830 |
| South Carolina | $26,240 | −2.1% | $22,791 | $17,490 – $36,090 | 1,180 |
| Louisiana | $25,250 | −10.9% | $22,032 | $17,020 – $39,320 | 1,170 |
| Mississippi | $23,500 | +3.2% | $20,754 | $16,910 – $34,280 | 540 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,580 | No formal educational credential | +5.5% |
| Crossing Guard and Flagger | $38,100 | No formal educational credential | +3.5% |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $42,540 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.0% |
| Transportation Security Screener | $66,770 | High school diploma or equivalent | -4.2% |
| Security Guard | $38,020 | High school diploma or equivalent | +0.9% |
| Gambling Surveillance Officer and Gambling Investigator | $43,370 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.8% |
| Animal Control Worker | $45,660 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.0% |
| Private Detective and Investigator | $51,220 | High school diploma or equivalent | +5.5% |
| Parking Enforcement Worker | $46,730 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.1% |
| First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers | $55,940 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.7% |
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, Philadelphia, PA 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.