How much does a school bus monitor make?
The median school bus monitor in the United States earns $34,980 per year, about $16.82 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all school bus monitors earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 33-9094.
School bus monitor salary range
Pay for school bus monitors spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $27,250 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $43,240. The average (mean) wage of $35,270 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,250 | $13.10 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | |
| Median (50th) | $34,980 | $16.82 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $38,840 | $18.67 | |
| 90th percentile | $43,240 | $20.79 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for school bus monitors (SOC 33-9094), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
School bus monitor salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. School bus monitors earn the most in Washington at $41,720 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $22,780. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $41,720 | 490 |
| Minnesota | $40,000 | 1,110 |
| Hawaii | $39,820 | 160 |
| California | $39,190 | 1,480 |
| Wyoming | $38,790 | 300 |
| Oregon | $37,850 | 450 |
| Delaware | $37,560 | 250 |
| Utah | $37,530 | 310 |
| Vermont | $37,440 | 90 |
| Colorado | $37,390 | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $37,070 | 320 |
| New York | $37,010 | 18,040 |
| Connecticut | $36,980 | 990 |
| Maryland | $36,900 | 2,290 |
| District of Columbia | $36,580 | N/A |
| Massachusetts | $36,070 | 2,210 |
| Alaska | $35,950 | 150 |
| Rhode Island | $35,820 | N/A |
| New Jersey | $35,700 | 5,110 |
| New Hampshire | $35,380 | 140 |
| Illinois | $35,360 | 5,190 |
| New Mexico | $34,720 | 250 |
| Ohio | $34,400 | 820 |
| Arizona | $34,190 | 1,520 |
| Iowa | $34,180 | 400 |
| Nebraska | $33,520 | 390 |
| Virginia | $33,410 | 1,870 |
| Montana | $33,230 | 210 |
| North Carolina | $33,070 | 1,670 |
| Michigan | $32,920 | 2,040 |
| Florida | $32,770 | 3,640 |
| Missouri | $31,750 | 1,330 |
| Indiana | $31,650 | 2,030 |
| Pennsylvania | $31,200 | 2,180 |
| Maine | $31,030 | 170 |
| Georgia | $29,600 | 2,320 |
| Arkansas | $29,450 | 730 |
| Kansas | $29,320 | 1,000 |
| Texas | $29,180 | 5,080 |
| Nevada | $28,560 | 130 |
| Louisiana | $28,330 | 710 |
| Oklahoma | $27,820 | 640 |
| Kentucky | $27,780 | 360 |
| Tennessee | $27,650 | 690 |
| South Carolina | $26,790 | 790 |
| Alabama | $26,590 | 120 |
| Idaho | $26,550 | 160 |
| Mississippi | $22,780 | 600 |
State median wages for school bus monitors (SOC 33-9094), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for school bus monitors
The BLS projects employment of school bus monitors to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 1.9%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 76,700 jobs in 2025 moving toward 75,300 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 13,400 openings a year for school bus monitors. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a school bus monitor
The typical entry-level education for school bus monitors is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a school bus monitor earns
Employer, region, seniority, rank, and overtime shape take-home pay. Large departments, unions, and high cost areas raise the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $41,720) and the lowest (Mississippi, $22,780) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 72,140 people work as school bus monitors in the United States. At $34,980 a year, the job pays below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
School bus monitor salary FAQ
How much does a school bus monitor make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a school bus monitor is $16.82. The middle half of school bus monitors earn between $15.00 and $18.67 per hour.
What is the highest school bus monitor salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of school bus monitors earn more than $43,240 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a school bus monitor make a year?
The median annual salary for a school bus monitor is $34,980. The average (mean) wage of $35,270 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a school bus monitor a well paid job?
At $34,980 a year, a school bus monitor earns below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 72,140 people work as school bus monitors in the United States.
Which state pays school bus monitors the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for school bus monitors at $41,720 a year. Minnesota ($40,000) and Hawaii ($39,820) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being a school bus monitor a good career?
Employment of school bus monitors is projected to shrink 1.9% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 13,400 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a school bus monitor?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for school bus monitors as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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