School Bus Monitor salary in Illinois
School Bus Monitors in Illinois earn a median of $33,840 a year ($16.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,930 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,390 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $35,100. Illinois ranks 31st of 50 states for school bus monitors pay. There are 1.1 school bus monitors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $34,380, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for school bus monitors in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $33,840 | $16.27 |
| 75th percentile | $35,350 | $17.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,390 | $18.46 |
| Average (mean) | $34,380 | $16.53 |
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 | $2,820 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,410 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,301.54 |
| Weekly | $650.77 |
| Hourly | $16.27 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
School Bus Monitor salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | $37,140 | 240 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $34,880 | 1,140 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $33,900 | 100 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $33,890 | 5,210 |
| Bloomington, IL | $33,750 | 100 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,570 | 170 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,200 | 60 |
| Rockford, IL | $31,200 | 130 |
| Springfield, IL | $31,200 | 100 |
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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $39,490 | $18.98 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,710 | $16.21 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $38,990 | $18.75 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $70,570 | $33.93 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $60,210 | $28.95 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| Animal Control Worker | $42,480 | $20.42 |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $42,760 | $20.56 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $100,520 | $48.33 |
| Firefighter | $78,380 | $37.68 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $79,190 | $38.07 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $135,080 | $64.94 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $91,190 | $43.84 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $123,500 | $59.37 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for school bus monitors in Illinois is $33,840 a year, or $16.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid school bus monitors make in Illinois?
The top 10% of school bus monitors in Illinois earn at least $38,390 a year. The top 25% earn $35,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for school bus monitors in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of school bus monitors earn $31,200 or less.
How many school bus monitors work in Illinois?
About 6,930 school bus monitors are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.