Crossing guards and flaggers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,840 | $14.83 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $38,100 | $18.32 |
| Mean (average) | $43,350 | $20.84 |
| 90th percentile | $61,690 | $29.66 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Crossing guards and flaggers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 50 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $29,190 | $19,360 | $43,170 | 250 | 0.2 |
| Arizona | $37,440 | $30,580 | $45,760 | 2,170 | 1.11 |
| Arkansas | $30,830 | $22,880 | $34,990 | ||
| California | $50,610 | $35,270 | $81,440 | 9,390 | 0.85 |
| Colorado | $37,620 | $33,510 | $49,640 | 2,810 | 1.61 |
| Connecticut | $41,950 | $34,010 | $99,760 | 1,670 | 1.62 |
| Delaware | $36,500 | $32,690 | $45,500 | 580 | 1.98 |
| District of Columbia | $40,800 | $36,400 | $47,210 | 520 | 1.22 |
| Florida | $35,730 | $29,170 | $43,410 | 5,690 | 0.94 |
| Georgia | $34,230 | $21,550 | $46,920 | 2,030 | 0.68 |
| Hawaii | $42,780 | $35,360 | $54,690 | 230 | 0.62 |
| Idaho | $40,060 | $34,730 | $61,190 | 470 | 0.9 |
| Illinois | $38,990 | $31,200 | $79,880 | 2,240 | 0.61 |
| Indiana | $37,440 | $27,970 | $65,140 | 2,230 | 1.15 |
| Iowa | $41,240 | $32,130 | $70,520 | 170 | 0.18 |
| Kansas | $35,440 | $28,290 | $43,520 | 180 | 0.2 |
| Kentucky | $34,450 | $32,140 | $38,940 | 420 | 0.34 |
| Louisiana | $25,450 | $15,080 | $44,240 | 440 | 0.38 |
| Maine | $40,140 | $36,610 | $46,170 | 1,140 | 2.93 |
| Maryland | $35,850 | $31,200 | $58,750 | 3,420 | 2.04 |
| Massachusetts | $43,460 | $34,770 | $92,660 | 1,700 | 0.77 |
| Michigan | $36,540 | $26,810 | $46,410 | 2,150 | 0.8 |
| Minnesota | $48,100 | $34,240 | $57,890 | 260 | 0.15 |
| Missouri | $33,560 | $28,600 | $52,070 | 150 | 0.08 |
| Montana | $32,600 | $28,300 | $85,080 | 70 | 0.21 |
| Nebraska | $37,990 | $28,080 | $45,570 | 110 | 0.18 |
| Nevada | $31,480 | $26,770 | $48,060 | 1,500 | 1.59 |
| New Hampshire | $45,980 | $35,090 | $46,210 | 440 | 1.06 |
| New Jersey | $41,600 | $32,830 | $50,890 | 7,270 | 2.8 |
| New Mexico | $31,460 | $31,450 | $42,650 | 510 | 0.97 |
| New York | $44,730 | $35,300 | $62,430 | 10,430 | 1.77 |
| North Carolina | $33,730 | $29,500 | $36,150 | 2,760 | 0.92 |
| North Dakota | $60,230 | $45,960 | $61,810 | 50 | 0.19 |
| Ohio | $37,440 | $28,180 | $61,690 | 2,700 | 0.8 |
| Oklahoma | $28,610 | $22,220 | $35,970 | 130 | 0.13 |
| Oregon | $47,110 | $37,940 | $80,040 | 2,250 | 1.89 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,810 | $30,680 | $59,190 | 9,410 | 2.56 |
| Puerto Rico | $31,460 | $23,770 | $31,530 | ||
| Rhode Island | $31,200 | $31,200 | $62,370 | ||
| South Carolina | $32,690 | $28,690 | $76,020 | 1,050 | 0.75 |
| South Dakota | $46,940 | $29,680 | $53,280 | 60 | 0.21 |
| Tennessee | $35,960 | $32,610 | $48,530 | 1,460 | 0.73 |
| Texas | $33,350 | $25,330 | $42,760 | 2,830 | 0.33 |
| Utah | $35,480 | $28,310 | $43,080 | 1,890 | 1.79 |
| Vermont | $45,410 | $43,520 | $48,110 | 340 | 1.85 |
| Virginia | $37,560 | $30,160 | $47,060 | 1,940 | 0.78 |
| Washington | $48,940 | $40,280 | $78,430 | 3,340 | 1.55 |
| West Virginia | $32,800 | $29,720 | $80,280 | 1,190 | 2.8 |
| Wisconsin | $35,580 | $28,060 | $48,490 | 990 | 0.55 |
| Wyoming | $47,070 | $32,110 | $47,070 | 160 | 0.94 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for crossing guards and flaggers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 17,300. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.1%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for crossing guards and flaggers
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Direct or escort pedestrians across streets, stopping traffic, as necessary.
- Guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as street and railroad crossings and construction sites.
- Monitor traffic flow to locate safe gaps through which pedestrians can cross streets.
- Communicate traffic and crossing rules and other information to students and adults.
- Direct traffic movement or warn of hazards, using signs, flags, lanterns, and hand signals.
- Report unsafe behavior of children to school officials.
- Record license numbers of vehicles disregarding traffic signals, and report infractions to appropriate authorities.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Payroll software
- Visual Computer Solutions Crossing Guard Scheduling
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Persuasion.
Common job titles: Adult Crossing Guard, Community Service Officer, Crossing Guard, Road Crossing Guard, School Crossing Guard, Substitute Crossing Guard.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do crossing guards and flaggers make?
The national median annual wage for crossing guards and flaggers was $38,100 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $30,840 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $61,690. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do crossing guards and flaggers need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is crossing guards and flaggers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of crossing guards and flaggers to change +3.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 17,300 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay crossing guards and flaggers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were North Dakota ($60,230), California ($50,610), Washington ($48,940). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.