School bus monitors salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,130 | $13.52 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $35,100 | $16.88 |
| Mean (average) | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| 90th percentile | $43,250 | $20.79 |
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
School bus monitors 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 | $28,210 | $23,920 | $41,820 | 130 | 0.12 |
| Alaska | $33,990 | $30,840 | $37,720 | 260 | 1.6 |
| Arizona | $34,560 | $30,580 | $41,440 | 1,570 | 0.96 |
| Arkansas | $28,260 | $23,160 | $41,190 | 780 | 1.19 |
| California | $38,360 | $35,520 | $46,170 | 1,260 | 0.14 |
| Colorado | $33,540 | $30,800 | $37,020 | 150 | 0.1 |
| Connecticut | $35,350 | $34,010 | $49,570 | 1,520 | 1.77 |
| Delaware | $36,560 | $31,200 | $46,690 | 280 | 1.12 |
| District of Columbia | $41,720 | $36,990 | $42,740 | ||
| Florida | $34,110 | $28,220 | $39,650 | 4,080 | 0.81 |
| Georgia | $30,130 | $17,590 | $37,380 | 2,870 | 1.16 |
| Hawaii | $40,250 | $32,130 | $45,240 | 220 | 0.71 |
| Idaho | $32,230 | $25,610 | $44,710 | 340 | 0.79 |
| Illinois | $33,840 | $31,200 | $38,390 | 6,930 | 2.25 |
| Indiana | $33,590 | $27,640 | $38,500 | 2,020 | 1.25 |
| Iowa | $32,740 | $28,180 | $36,540 | 520 | 0.66 |
| Kansas | $29,420 | $26,090 | $35,400 | 1,240 | 1.71 |
| Kentucky | $28,220 | $19,820 | $34,940 | 370 | 0.36 |
| Louisiana | $25,250 | $17,020 | $39,320 | 1,170 | 1.19 |
| Maine | $38,060 | $30,470 | $46,770 | 160 | 0.49 |
| Maryland | $38,750 | $32,480 | $47,550 | 2,370 | 1.7 |
| Massachusetts | $36,020 | $33,690 | $42,270 | 2,300 | 1.25 |
| Michigan | $32,480 | $28,630 | $42,700 | 1,860 | 0.84 |
| Minnesota | $38,590 | $33,030 | $43,900 | 790 | 0.53 |
| Mississippi | $23,500 | $16,910 | $34,280 | 540 | 0.93 |
| Missouri | $34,220 | $28,600 | $36,600 | 1,530 | 1.04 |
| Montana | $34,740 | $30,620 | $44,510 | 200 | 0.79 |
| Nebraska | $34,750 | $28,870 | $47,400 | 480 | 0.93 |
| Nevada | $29,230 | $25,130 | $40,260 | 160 | 0.21 |
| New Hampshire | $37,620 | $22,950 | $47,060 | 120 | 0.34 |
| New Jersey | $36,100 | $32,220 | $43,570 | 6,100 | 2.82 |
| New Mexico | $36,250 | $30,230 | $64,750 | 330 | 0.75 |
| New York | $36,910 | $33,060 | $42,810 | 19,090 | 3.91 |
| North Carolina | $32,970 | $27,650 | $39,080 | 1,360 | 0.55 |
| North Dakota | $38,480 | $33,070 | $45,720 | 120 | 0.53 |
| Ohio | $28,110 | $26,580 | $62,070 | 1,000 | 0.36 |
| Oklahoma | $28,130 | $17,830 | $35,230 | 720 | 0.83 |
| Oregon | $40,900 | $34,620 | $51,310 | 380 | 0.39 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,290 | $29,040 | $41,720 | 3,180 | 1.04 |
| Rhode Island | $35,910 | $31,200 | $44,460 | ||
| South Carolina | $26,240 | $17,490 | $36,090 | 1,180 | 1.01 |
| South Dakota | $34,380 | $32,820 | $35,650 | 140 | 0.59 |
| Tennessee | $27,250 | $20,540 | $43,740 | 830 | 0.5 |
| Texas | $29,300 | $23,360 | $37,400 | 2,610 | 0.37 |
| Utah | $38,020 | $31,570 | $48,330 | 470 | 0.53 |
| Vermont | $39,020 | $34,900 | $54,530 | 70 | 0.45 |
| Virginia | $36,510 | $28,220 | $46,020 | 1,920 | 0.92 |
| Washington | $42,330 | $35,770 | $52,230 | 470 | 0.27 |
| Wisconsin | $36,640 | $29,130 | $43,410 | 310 | 0.21 |
| Wyoming | $36,810 | $31,060 | $46,390 | 330 | 2.33 |
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 school bus monitors
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 13,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for school bus monitors
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- 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
- Buckle seatbelts or fasten wheelchair tie-down straps to secure passengers for transportation.
- Escort young children across roads or highways.
- Assist children with disabilities or children with psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues with boarding and exiting the school bus.
- Monitor the conduct of students to maintain discipline and safety.
- Evacuate students from the school bus in emergency situations.
- Direct students boarding and exiting the school bus.
- Direct students evacuating the bus during safety drills.
- Operate a wheelchair lift to load or unload wheelchairs.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Persuasion, Negotiation.
Common job titles: Bus Aide, Bus Assistant, Bus Attendant, Bus Monitor, Bus Paraeducator, School Bus Aide, School Transportation Aide, SPED Bus Aide (Special Ed Bus Aide), SPED Bus Paraeducator (Special Education Bus Paraeducator), SPED School Bus Monitor (Special Education School Bus Monitor).
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 school bus monitors make?
The national median annual wage for school bus monitors was $35,100 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $28,130 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $43,250. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do school bus monitors need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent 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 school bus monitors a growing career?
BLS projects employment of school bus monitors to change -1.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 13,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay school bus monitors the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($42,330), District of Columbia ($41,720), Oregon ($40,900). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.