Bus monitor vs special needs bus driver

The differences between bus monitors and special needs bus drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a special needs bus driver has an average salary of $37,581, which is higher than the $26,958 average annual salary of a bus monitor.

The top three skills for a bus monitor include customer service, behavior problems and kids. The most important skills for a special needs bus driver are safety equipment, CDL, and post-trip inspections.

Bus monitor vs special needs bus driver overview

	Bus Monitor	Special Needs Bus Driver
Yearly salary	$26,958	$37,581
Hourly rate	$12.96	$18.07
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	11,422	51,389
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 47%	Associate Degree, 29%
Average age	58	58
Years of experience	-	-

Bus monitor vs special needs bus driver salary

Bus monitors and special needs bus drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Bus Monitor	Special Needs Bus Driver
Average salary	$26,958	$37,581
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $33,000	Between $31,000 And $44,000
Highest paying City	Soledad, CA	-
Highest paying state	Washington	-
Best paying company	University of California, Berkeley	-
Best paying industry	Transportation	-

Differences between bus monitor and special needs bus driver education

There are a few differences between a bus monitor and a special needs bus driver in terms of educational background:

	Bus Monitor	Special Needs Bus Driver
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 47%	Associate Degree, 29%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Bus monitor vs special needs bus driver demographics

Here are the differences between bus monitors' and special needs bus drivers' demographics:

	Bus Monitor	Special Needs Bus Driver
Average age	58	58
Gender ratio	Male, 18.8% Female, 81.2%	Male, 27.9% Female, 72.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 2.5% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% Asian, 3.0% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between bus monitor and special needs bus driver duties and responsibilities

Bus monitor example responsibilities.

Seat students safely using need seat belts, car seats or wheel chair restraints, etc.
Seat students safely using need seat belts, and if applicable wheel chair restraints, etc.
Enroll in CDL training classes.
Assist children on bus with ESE problems
Secure and ensure clients safety via wheelchair or walk ons.
maintain records of Pre and post inspection of school bus.

Special needs bus driver example responsibilities.

Instruct students with disabilities, including autism, non-verbal, mental retardation, non-walking/restrict to wheelchair and down syndrome.
Perform vehicle pre-trip inspections and appropriately documents.
Assist children on bus with ESE problems

Bus monitor vs special needs bus driver skills

Common bus monitor skills

Customer Service, 22%
Behavior Problems, 15%
Kids, 13%
CPR, 10%
Safety Rules, 4%
Seat Belts, 4%

Common special needs bus driver skills

Safety Equipment, 40%
CDL, 20%
Post-Trip Inspections, 6%
DOT, 3%
Tie Downs, 3%
Safety Regulations, 3%

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Transportation Industry
Bus Monitor
Bus Monitor vs Special Needs Bus Driver

Updated January 8, 2025

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