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What is a school bus monitor and how to become one
When kids are in school, they are supervised by a teacher. At home, their parents or guardians keep an eye out for them. But who makes sure that kids get to and from school safely? Often that's the job of a school bus monitor.
A school bus monitor helps manage kids on the bus so the school bus driver can focus on driving the bus safely. This can include calming unruly kids while the bus is in motion, making sure all kids are buckled up safely, and inspecting the bus after it stops to make sure that it is empty. A school bus monitor also checks that students are on the right bus and helps them get on and off the bus safely.
The skills to become a school bus monitor are usually learned on the job, so only a few school bus monitors have bachelor's degrees. Some positions may require that a bus monitor also has a driver's license in case they need to step in for the driver, or even first aid certification in case of an emergency.
Avg. Salary $26,704
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 5%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.00%
Asian 2.45%
Black or African American 10.34%
Hispanic or Latino 17.44%
Unknown 4.53%
White 64.23%
Genderfemale 71.17%
male 28.83%
Age - 59American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 59Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
School bus monitor career paths
Key steps to become a school bus monitor
Explore school bus monitor education requirements
Start to develop specific school bus monitor skills
Skills Percentages Customer Service 37.07% Behavior Problems 23.96% CPR 9.47% Safety Rules 4.14% Bus Safety 2.97% Complete relevant school bus monitor training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New school bus monitors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a school bus monitor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real school bus monitor resumes.Obtain the necessary licensing
Becoming a licensed school bus monitor usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed school bus monitor in most of states. 18 states require school bus monitors to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.State Education Exam License url Kentucky Specific course required State exam required School Bus Driver Maryland Specific course required State exam required BUS DRIVER, SCHOOL Alaska Specific course required State exam required Bus Driver, School Idaho - State exam required Commercial Drivers Illinois Specific course required State exam required COMMERCIAL DRIVER (TRUCK AND BUS OPERATOR) Research school bus monitor duties and responsibilities
- Certify in CPR in case of an emergency.
- Monitor children on and off the bus also cdl driver training
- Provide appropriate intervention in conflict situations according to ISS standards; notify principal or office when necessary.
- Assure responsible adult meets children when getting off the bus.
Prepare your school bus monitor resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your school bus monitor resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a school bus monitor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable school bus monitor resume templates
Build a professional school bus monitor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your school bus monitor resume.
Apply for school bus monitor jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a school bus monitor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first school bus monitor job
Are you a school bus monitor?
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Average school bus monitor salary
The average school bus monitor salary in the United States is $26,704 per year or $13 per hour. School bus monitor salaries range between $20,000 and $33,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do school bus monitors rate their job?
School bus monitor reviews
Unruly and disrespectful children sometimes with dangerous behavior. You may not always be supported by your supervisor, parents or school staff. Hours can be very conflicting with your doctor’s or other appointments
It’s hard to get up so early! When I had a regular run I believed that those routes should have attendants to help control the students-instead of just special needs routes having them.
The flexibility
The pay and lack of respect, and no administrative support
Updated January 8, 2025
