School Bus Monitor salary in Iowa
School Bus Monitors in Iowa earn a median of $32,740 a year ($15.74 an hour), based on BLS data for 520 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,540 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $35,100. Iowa ranks 35th of 50 states for school bus monitors pay. There are 0.33 school bus monitors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.66). The average (mean) salary is $32,260, close to the median.
Pay range for school bus monitors in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,180 | $13.55 |
| 25th percentile | $28,850 | $13.87 |
| Median | $32,740 | $15.74 |
| 75th percentile | $34,890 | $16.78 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Average (mean) | $32,260 | $15.51 |
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 | $2,728.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,364.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,259.23 |
| Weekly | $629.62 |
| Hourly | $15.74 |
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 Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $34,590 | 110 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $33,930 | 430 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,570 | 170 |
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 Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $37,080 | $17.83 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $25,460 | $12.24 |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $35,750 | $17.19 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $61,590 | $29.61 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $41,240 | $19.83 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $41,110 | $19.77 |
| Animal Control Worker | $54,190 | $26.05 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $38,160 | $18.35 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $74,470 | $35.81 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $53,040 | $25.50 |
| Firefighter | $55,810 | $26.83 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $98,840 | $47.52 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $76,010 | $36.54 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $79,560 | $38.25 |
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 Iowa?
The median salary for school bus monitors in Iowa is $32,740 a year, or $15.74 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid school bus monitors make in Iowa?
The top 10% of school bus monitors in Iowa earn at least $36,540 a year. The top 25% earn $34,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for school bus monitors in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,180 a year, and a quarter of school bus monitors earn $28,850 or less.
How many school bus monitors work in Iowa?
About 520 school bus monitors are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.