Who Earns What

How much does a crossing guard make?

US Crossing Guards and Flaggers
$38,100

a year · about $18 an hour

A typical crossing guard in the United States makes $38,100 a year, about $18 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

What do they do?

At a school crossing, you watch traffic, raise a STOP paddle, and guide children across during busy school hours. At roadwork, you use a stop/slow paddle or signals to hold cars while crews work nearby.

Did you know? Some flaggers can operate stop/slow signals remotely from well away from moving traffic, instead of standing beside the cars.

Is that a lot?

Compared with jobs you know
This job$38,100
Typical worker$50,980
Elementary teacher$63,970
Doctor$244,180
Cashier$32,880

If 100 people had this job

Most earn between $30,840 and $61,690
45 of 100
not many

How do you become one?

In the U.S., apply to a city, school district, or police department. A high school diploma or GED is common but not always required; some local jobs require applicants to be adults (often 18+), and employers provide training, while roadwork flaggers may need state safety training.

School needed: High school plus some training

Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized

Why does pay differ?

In the U.S., pay can differ by location and employer, and more experience or responsibility may mean better pay. School guards often work part-time; roadwork flaggers may need state safety training, and hours worked affect total earnings.

Where does it pay most?

Highest in California ($50,610), lowest in New Mexico ($31,460).

See every state
Whole US$38,100
California$50,610
Washington$48,940
Oregon$47,110
New York$44,730
New Jersey$41,600
Texas$33,350
Nevada$31,480
New Mexico$31,460

Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.

Jobs like this

Next up

Who earns more?
Data table and sources
Crossing guard pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread) — Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lower earner (10th from bottom)Typical person (median)Higher earner (10th from top)People in this job
$30,840$38,100$61,690about 94,000
States where crossing guards earn the most (median, May 2025)
StateTypical person (median)People in this job
California$50,610about 9,000
Washington$48,940about 3,000
Oregon$47,110about 2,000
New York$44,730about 10,000
New Jersey$41,600about 7,000

Official definition: Guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as streets, schools, railroad crossings, or construction sites.

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine

Pages used for the text

Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY