School Bus Monitor salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
School Bus Monitors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $33,890 a year ($16.29 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,210 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,210 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $35,100. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $33,840. There are 1.2 school bus monitors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $34,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for school bus monitors in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,640 | $15.21 |
| Median | $33,890 | $16.29 |
| 75th percentile | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,210 | $18.37 |
| Average (mean) | $34,350 | $16.51 |
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 | $2,824.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,412.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,303.46 |
| Weekly | $651.73 |
| Hourly | $16.29 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
School Bus Monitor salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | $37,140 | 240 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $36,490 | 80 |
| Evansville, IN | $35,620 | 100 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $34,880 | 1,140 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $33,900 | 100 |
| Bloomington, IL | $33,750 | 100 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $33,590 | 780 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $32,340 | 100 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $32,030 | 30 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $31,860 | 150 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,570 | 170 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,200 | 60 |
| Rockford, IL | $31,200 | 130 |
| Springfield, IL | $31,200 | 100 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $29,910 | 60 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $29,570 | 350 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $28,910 | 30 |
| Kokomo, IN | $24,150 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for school bus monitors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $42,330 |
| District of Columbia | $41,720 |
| Oregon | $40,900 |
| Hawaii | $40,250 |
| Vermont | $39,020 |
| Maryland | $38,750 |
| Minnesota | $38,590 |
| North Dakota | $38,480 |
| California | $38,360 |
| Maine | $38,060 |
See School Bus Monitor pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $39,990 | $19.22 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,750 | $16.23 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $38,990 | $18.75 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $70,570 | $33.93 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $68,310 | $32.84 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $46,100 | $22.16 |
| Animal Control Worker | $49,370 | $23.74 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $107,810 | $51.83 |
| Firefighter | $82,820 | $39.82 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $84,550 | $40.65 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $135,080 | $64.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $126,200 | $60.67 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $102,260 | $49.16 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for school bus monitors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $33,890 a year, or $16.29 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid school bus monitors make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of school bus monitors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $38,210 a year. The top 25% earn $35,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for school bus monitors in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of school bus monitors earn $31,640 or less.
How many school bus monitors work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 5,210 school bus monitors are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.