How to hire a school crossing guard

How to hire a school crossing guard, step by step

Here's a step-by-step school crossing guard hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a school crossing guard job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new school crossing guard
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a school crossing guard do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the school crossing guard you need to hire. Certain school crossing guard roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A school crossing guard's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, school crossing guards from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of school crossing guard salaries for various roles:

   Type of School Crossing Guard	Description	Hourly rate
   School Crossing Guard		$10-37
   Flagger	A flagger is an employee who is hired by government agencies or construction companies to control the flow of traffic around road construction sites. To control the flow of traffic, flaggers must erect warning signs and position traffic cones and barricades to guide drivers through the traffic flow... Show more	$10-18
   Crossing Guard	A crossing guard directs and escorts pedestrians when crossing the street, enforcing traffic laws when necessary. They have the authority to control both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and they will sometimes be responsible for directing traffic to avoid hazards... Show more	$11-20

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patrol
   • Safety Procedures
   • Good Judgment
   • Traffic Laws
   • Pedestrian Traffic
   • Law Enforcement
   • Public Safety
   • Safety Rules
   • Direct Traffic
   • Emergency Situations
   • Hand Signals
   • Vehicle Traffic
   • Construction Sites
   • Control Traffic Flow

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Monitor and operate CCTV and audio recording devices.
   • Monitor CCTV of warehouse and truck lots with empty and load trailors.
   • Patrol all properties own by DPS and ensure a safe environment for all students and staff.
   • Driver-Perform operator/crew maintenance on the ammunition resupply vehicle and trailer.
   • Verify that everyone has the required PPE, such as hard hat, safety glasses, and steel toe boots.

   More school crossing guard duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your school crossing guard job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A school crossing guard salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, school crossing guards' average salary in utah is 55% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level school crossing guards earn 72% less than senior-level school crossing guards.
   • Certifications. A school crossing guard with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a school crossing guard's salary.

   Average school crossing guard salary

   $41,620yearly

   $20.01 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level school crossing guard salary

   $22,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average school crossing guard salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Virginia	$49,124	$24
   2	Connecticut	$45,988	$22
   3	Massachusetts	$45,438	$22
   4	Pennsylvania	$42,627	$20
   5	California	$42,475	$20
   6	Minnesota	$40,188	$19
   7	Wisconsin	$38,129	$18
   8	New Mexico	$37,271	$18
   9	Illinois	$33,261	$16
   10	North Carolina	$32,611	$16
   11	Arizona	$32,213	$15
   12	Texas	$31,438	$15
   13	Michigan	$30,859	$15
   14	Florida	$30,405	$15
   15	Colorado	$28,911	$14
   16	Utah	$24,049	$12

   Average school crossing guard salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Orange County Sheriff's Office	$56,640	$27.23
   2	City of San Jos	$55,844	$26.85
   3	City of Palm Bay	$54,529	$26.22
   4	City of Philadelphia	$51,306	$24.67
   5	The SOS Group	$49,509	$23.80
   6	Brigham Moore	$45,378	$21.82
   7	Manatee County Sheriff's Office	$42,031	$20.21	1
   8	City of Largo	$41,797	$20.09
   9	Shelby County	$41,594	$20.00	3
   10	Action Labor & Staffing Connection	$41,055	$19.74
   11	City of San Antonio	$40,698	$19.57	4
   12	City & County Of San Francisco - Police Department (sfpd)	$40,602	$19.52	3
   13	Hayward Unified School District	$39,883	$19.17
   14	Prince William County	$38,975	$18.74	1
   15	City of Roseville Michigan	$38,798	$18.65
   16	City of York	$38,426	$18.47
   17	City of Pittsburgh	$37,516	$18.04
   18	City of Moline	$37,278	$17.92
   19	City of Riviera Beach, FL	$37,155	$17.86
   20	Metro Nashville	$36,501	$17.55

4. Writing a school crossing guard job description

   A good school crossing guard job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a school crossing guard job description:

   School crossing guard job description example

   To support the health and safety of our employees, work spaces, and the public with whom we interact, the City requires newly hired employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or to have received an approved accommodation based on medical condition or sincerely held religious belief or practice. Please let us know if you’d like to discuss the policy or available accommodations before proceeding with our recruitment process.
   SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD Work Hours: August through May, M-F (hours vary depending on location);
   Morning shift beginning between 7:15 – 7:45 am until 8:15 – 8:45 am; Afternoon shift beginning between 1:45 – 3:15 pm and ending between 2:30 – 4:15 pm.
   
   Location:
   Varies based upon City of Decatur School sites
   
   Salary: $15.00 per hour
   
   Nature of Work:
   Under the supervision of ranking officers in the Decatur Police Department, this position is responsible for assisting children and other pedestrians in crossing at specified streets and intersections along school routes. Crossing guards are not to engage in traffic direction or control, except to halt traffic for the purpose of allowing pedestrian traffic to cross the roadway. Work is seasonal based upon the City of Decatur Schools’ calendar year.
   
   Major Job Responsibilities:
   This position assembles children and other pedestrians behind curb lines awaiting traffic gaps or signal changes, holds up a “stop” sign in a manner visible to approaching vehicles, and may require interrupting traffic and escorting children and other pedestrians into the street allowing them to cross safely. The position instructs children in proper procedures for safe street crossing. Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.
   
   Other Requirements:
   Must have no convictions involving moral turpitude. Must possess stamina to stand for long periods of time, and the ability to escort children and other pedestrians across streets. Must be able to see and read printed materials and license plates, hearing and speech to communicate clearly and effectively, and the ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions and with exposure to traffic. Must have the ability to follow oral and written instructions, and hold up a “stop” sign. Good judgment skills, and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, school personnel, children, parents, and the general public is required.
   How to Apply: All applications must be submitted online at www.decaturga.com
   AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER The City of Decatur is committed to having a workforce that reflects diversity at all levels and is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment, and employees are treated during employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right school crossing guard for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your school crossing guard job on Zippia to find and recruit school crossing guard candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit school crossing guards, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new school crossing guard

   Once you've selected the best school crossing guard candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a school crossing guard?