School Bus Monitor salary in the U.S.
School Bus Monitors in the U.S. earn a median of $35,100 a year ($16.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 78,420 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,250 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $35,150, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for school bus monitors in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,130 | $13.52 |
| 25th percentile | $31,760 | $15.27 |
| Median | $35,100 | $16.88 |
| 75th percentile | $37,760 | $18.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,250 | $20.79 |
| Average (mean) | $35,150 | $16.90 |
Half of school bus monitors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,925 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,462.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,350 |
| Weekly | $675 |
| Hourly | $16.88 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
School Bus Monitor salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $42,330 | 470 |
| District of Columbia | $41,720 | n/a |
| Oregon | $40,900 | 380 |
| Hawaii | $40,250 | 220 |
| Vermont | $39,020 | 70 |
| Maryland | $38,750 | 2,370 |
| Minnesota | $38,590 | 790 |
| North Dakota | $38,480 | 120 |
| California | $38,360 | 1,260 |
| Maine | $38,060 | 160 |
| Utah | $38,020 | 470 |
| New Hampshire | $37,620 | 120 |
| New York | $36,910 | 19,090 |
| Wyoming | $36,810 | 330 |
| Wisconsin | $36,640 | 310 |
| Delaware | $36,560 | 280 |
| Virginia | $36,510 | 1,920 |
| New Mexico | $36,250 | 330 |
| New Jersey | $36,100 | 6,100 |
| Massachusetts | $36,020 | 2,300 |
| Rhode Island | $35,910 | n/a |
| Connecticut | $35,350 | 1,520 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,290 | 3,180 |
| Nebraska | $34,750 | 480 |
| Montana | $34,740 | 200 |
| Arizona | $34,560 | 1,570 |
| South Dakota | $34,380 | 140 |
| Missouri | $34,220 | 1,530 |
| Florida | $34,110 | 4,080 |
| Alaska | $33,990 | 260 |
| Illinois | $33,840 | 6,930 |
| Indiana | $33,590 | 2,020 |
| Colorado | $33,540 | 150 |
| North Carolina | $32,970 | 1,360 |
| Iowa | $32,740 | 520 |
| Michigan | $32,480 | 1,860 |
| Idaho | $32,230 | 340 |
| Georgia | $30,130 | 2,870 |
| Kansas | $29,420 | 1,240 |
| Texas | $29,300 | 2,610 |
| Nevada | $29,230 | 160 |
| Arkansas | $28,260 | 780 |
| Kentucky | $28,220 | 370 |
| Alabama | $28,210 | 130 |
| Oklahoma | $28,130 | 720 |
| Ohio | $28,110 | 1,000 |
| Tennessee | $27,250 | 830 |
| South Carolina | $26,240 | 1,180 |
| Louisiana | $25,250 | 1,170 |
| Mississippi | $23,500 | 540 |
Best-paying metro areas for school bus monitors
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $47,170 | 190 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $43,250 | 140 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $43,110 | 100 |
| Rochester, MN | $41,720 | 70 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $41,720 | 2,220 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $41,660 | 60 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $41,490 | 90 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $41,490 | 210 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $41,050 | 40 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $40,710 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $40,540 | 50 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $40,160 | 50 |
| Worcester, MA | $40,130 | 330 |
| Green Bay, WI | $39,880 | 60 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $39,080 | 100 |
Metro areas with the most school bus monitors
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 16,260 | $37,340 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 5,210 | $33,890 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 2,550 | $34,620 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,220 | $41,720 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,640 | $30,130 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 1,510 | $35,910 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 1,290 | $34,460 |
| Rochester, NY | 1,290 | $34,710 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 1,140 | $34,880 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,090 | $38,470 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,030 | $35,040 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 900 | $29,660 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 830 | $34,440 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 830 | $34,970 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 780 | $33,590 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,580 | $16.14 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $38,100 | $18.32 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $42,540 | $20.45 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $66,770 | $32.10 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $51,220 | $24.62 |
| Animal Control Worker | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $43,370 | $20.85 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $76,210 | $36.64 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $58,940 | $28.34 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $106,040 | $50.98 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $93,790 | $45.09 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $93,530 | $44.96 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-9094. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a school bus monitor make in the U.S.?
The median salary for school bus monitors in the U.S. is $35,100 a year, or $16.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid school bus monitors make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of school bus monitors in the U.S. earn at least $43,250 a year. The top 25% earn $37,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for school bus monitors in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,130 a year, and a quarter of school bus monitors earn $31,760 or less.
How many school bus monitors work in the U.S.?
About 78,420 school bus monitors are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.