School Bus Monitor salary in Montana
School Bus Monitors in Montana earn a median of $34,740 a year ($16.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,510 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $35,100. Montana ranks 25th of 50 states for school bus monitors pay. There are 0.40 school bus monitors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $35,230, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for school bus monitors in Montana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,620 | $14.72 |
| 25th percentile | $32,200 | $15.48 |
| Median | $34,740 | $16.70 |
| 75th percentile | $35,730 | $17.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,510 | $21.40 |
| Average (mean) | $35,230 | $16.94 |
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 | $2,895 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,447.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,336.15 |
| Weekly | $668.08 |
| Hourly | $16.70 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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 Montana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $54,770 | $26.33 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $41,660 | $20.03 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $32,600 | $15.67 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $47,430 | $22.80 |
| Animal Control Worker | $50,530 | $24.29 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $70,050 | $33.68 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $49,180 | $23.64 |
| Firefighter | $59,310 | $28.52 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $92,410 | $44.43 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $89,380 | $42.97 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $82,820 | $39.82 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $74,630 | $35.88 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Montana
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 Montana?
The median salary for school bus monitors in Montana is $34,740 a year, or $16.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid school bus monitors make in Montana?
The top 10% of school bus monitors in Montana earn at least $44,510 a year. The top 25% earn $35,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for school bus monitors in Montana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,620 a year, and a quarter of school bus monitors earn $32,200 or less.
How many school bus monitors work in Montana?
About 200 school bus monitors are employed in Montana, not counting the self-employed.