Crossing Guards and Flaggers
Crossing Guards and Flaggers (SOC 33-9091) earn a median $38,100 a year ($18.32 an hour) in the United States, with 94,360 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is North Dakota.
What crossing guards and flaggers do
Crossing guards and flaggers guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at places such as streets, schools, railroad crossings and construction sites. They direct or escort pedestrians across streets, stopping traffic as necessary, and watch traffic flow to find safe gaps through which pedestrians can cross. They direct traffic movement or warn of hazards using signs, flags, lanterns and hand signals. At school crossings they communicate traffic and crossing rules to students and adults, and report unsafe behavior of children to school officials. They record the license numbers of vehicles that disregard traffic signals and report the infractions to the appropriate authorities. O*NET alternate titles include crossing guard, adult crossing guard, construction site crossing guard, flagger, crossing watchman and crossing tender, which show that the same code covers school, railroad and construction settings. About 73 percent of respondents report a high school diploma or equivalent, and 18 percent less than a high school diploma. Outdoor work and attention to approaching vehicles are routine, and clear communication with drivers and pedestrians is essential.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical level of education for this occupation (73 percent).
Also called: Adult Crossing Guard, Community Service Officer, Construction Site Crossing Guard, Crossing Flagman, Crossing Gateman.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $14.83 | $16.55 | $18.32 | $22.86 | $29.66 | $20.84 | 94,360 |
| Annual | $30,840 | $34,430 | $38,100 | $47,540 | $61,690 | $43,350 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where crossing guards and flaggers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| North Dakota | Hourly | $22.10 | $25.74 | $28.96 | $29.63 | $29.72 | $27.30 | 50 | 0.12 | 0.19 |
| Annual | $45,960 | $53,540 | $60,230 | $61,620 | $61,810 | $56,790 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $16.96 | $18.27 | $24.33 | $36.12 | $39.15 | $26.69 | 9,390 | 0.52 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $35,270 | $38,010 | $50,610 | $75,130 | $81,440 | $55,520 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $19.36 | $21.65 | $23.53 | $30.43 | $37.71 | $27.15 | 3,340 | 0.94 | 1.55 |
| Annual | $40,280 | $45,030 | $48,940 | $63,290 | $78,430 | $56,460 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $16.46 | $18.17 | $23.13 | $27.62 | $27.83 | $22.08 | 260 | 0.09 | 0.15 |
| Annual | $34,240 | $37,790 | $48,100 | $57,440 | $57,890 | $45,920 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $18.24 | $19.31 | $22.65 | $31.28 | $38.48 | $25.78 | 2,250 | 1.15 | 1.89 |
| Annual | $37,940 | $40,160 | $47,110 | $65,070 | $80,040 | $53,610 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $16.97 | $18.32 | $21.51 | $25.96 | $30.01 | $23.20 | 10,430 | 1.08 | 1.77 |
| Annual | $35,300 | $38,100 | $44,730 | $54,000 | $62,430 | $48,250 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $14.75 | $16.55 | $17.22 | $21.51 | $28.46 | $19.91 | 9,410 | 1.55 | 2.56 |
| Annual | $30,680 | $34,430 | $35,810 | $44,740 | $59,190 | $41,410 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $16.96 | $18.27 | $24.33 | $36.12 | $39.15 | $26.69 | 9,390 | 0.52 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $35,270 | $38,010 | $50,610 | $75,130 | $81,440 | $55,520 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $15.78 | $17.68 | $20.00 | $22.19 | $24.47 | $20.36 | 7,270 | 1.70 | 2.80 |
| Annual | $32,830 | $36,770 | $41,600 | $46,160 | $50,890 | $42,350 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $14.02 | $15.13 | $17.18 | $17.88 | $20.87 | $17.31 | 5,690 | 0.57 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $29,170 | $31,470 | $35,730 | $37,180 | $43,410 | $36,010 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | Hourly | $16.70 | $19.38 | $35.57 | $47.79 | $47.79 | $33.16 | 140 | 0.35 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $34,730 | $40,310 | $73,990 | $99,400 | $99,410 | $68,970 | ||||
| Salem, OR | Hourly | $18.70 | $19.55 | $30.28 | $31.08 | $39.65 | $26.79 | 250 | 1.31 | 2.15 |
| Annual | $38,890 | $40,660 | $62,990 | $64,650 | $82,470 | $55,720 | ||||
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | Hourly | $20.29 | $23.48 | $30.23 | $36.47 | $36.47 | $30.19 | 40 | 0.79 | 1.29 |
| Annual | $42,200 | $48,830 | $62,880 | $75,860 | $75,860 | $62,800 | ||||
| Columbus, OH | Hourly | $16.00 | $17.99 | $29.66 | $29.66 | $29.66 | $24.85 | 960 | 0.87 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $33,280 | $37,420 | $61,690 | $61,690 | $61,690 | $51,680 | ||||
| Vallejo, CA | Hourly | $18.27 | $23.97 | $28.98 | $38.36 | $38.36 | $30.35 | 290 | 2.03 | 3.34 |
| Annual | $38,000 | $49,860 | $60,270 | $79,780 | $79,780 | $63,130 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $17.59 | $18.32 | $20.89 | $25.96 | $28.22 | $22.32 | 13,930 | 1.47 | 2.42 |
| Annual | $36,580 | $38,100 | $43,440 | $54,000 | $58,690 | $46,430 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $16.23 | $16.84 | $17.96 | $20.58 | $23.64 | $19.72 | 4,300 | 1.48 | 2.44 |
| Annual | $33,750 | $35,030 | $37,350 | $42,800 | $49,170 | $41,010 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.04 | $19.98 | $26.78 | $36.49 | $37.72 | $27.82 | 2,500 | 0.40 | 0.66 |
| Annual | $35,450 | $41,560 | $55,700 | $75,890 | $78,450 | $57,860 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $15.31 | $17.03 | $18.75 | $23.84 | $35.07 | $22.53 | 2,140 | 0.47 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $31,850 | $35,420 | $38,990 | $49,600 | $72,940 | $46,860 | ||||
| Pittsburgh, PA | Hourly | $14.41 | $15.92 | $17.30 | $21.83 | $28.46 | $19.38 | 2,120 | 1.90 | 3.13 |
| Annual | $29,980 | $33,110 | $35,990 | $45,410 | $59,190 | $40,310 | ||||
Top industries employing crossing guards and flaggers
Other Support Services employ 40.0% of crossing guards and flaggers nationally (37,730 jobs) at a median $37,980 a year ($18.26 an hour), followed by Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (35.8%) and Elementary and Secondary Schools (7.2%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Support Services NAICS 561900 | 37,730 | 40.0% | $37,980 | $18.26 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 33,780 | 35.8% | $38,100 | $18.32 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools NAICS 611100 | 6,760 | 7.2% | $35,620 | $17.12 |
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 5,770 | 6.1% | $35,620 | $17.13 |
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction NAICS 237300 | 2,930 | 3.1% | $44,510 | $21.40 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (94,360). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $31,450 for crossing guards and flaggers in May 2021 and $38,100 in May 2025, with employment of 82,690 and 94,360.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $31,450 | $15.12 | 82,690 |
| May 2022 | $33,380 | $16.05 | 91,270 |
| May 2023 | $36,370 | $17.48 | 90,780 |
| May 2024 | $37,700 | $18.13 | 90,180 |
| May 2025 | $38,100 | $18.32 | 94,360 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
49 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota profile | $28.96 | $60,230 | $45,960 | $61,810 | 50 | 0.12 | 0.19 |
| 2 | California profile | $24.33 | $50,610 | $35,270 | $81,440 | 9,390 | 0.52 | 0.85 |
| 3 | Washington profile | $23.53 | $48,940 | $40,280 | $78,430 | 3,340 | 0.94 | 1.55 |
| 4 | Minnesota profile | $23.13 | $48,100 | $34,240 | $57,890 | 260 | 0.09 | 0.15 |
| 5 | Oregon profile | $22.65 | $47,110 | $37,940 | $80,040 | 2,250 | 1.15 | 1.89 |
| 6 | Wyoming profile | $22.63 | $47,070 | $32,110 | $47,070 | 160 | 0.57 | 0.94 |
| 7 | South Dakota profile | $22.57 | $46,940 | $29,680 | $53,280 | 60 | 0.13 | 0.21 |
| 8 | New Hampshire profile | $22.11 | $45,980 | $35,090 | $46,210 | 440 | 0.65 | 1.06 |
| 9 | Vermont profile | $21.83 | $45,410 | $43,520 | $48,110 | 340 | 1.12 | 1.85 |
| 10 | New York profile | $21.51 | $44,730 | $35,300 | $62,430 | 10,430 | 1.08 | 1.77 |
| 11 | Massachusetts profile | $20.89 | $43,460 | $34,770 | $92,660 | 1,700 | 0.47 | 0.77 |
| 12 | Hawaii profile | $20.57 | $42,780 | $35,360 | $54,690 | 230 | 0.37 | 0.62 |
| 13 | Connecticut profile | $20.17 | $41,950 | $34,010 | $99,760 | 1,670 | 0.99 | 1.62 |
| 14 | New Jersey profile | $20.00 | $41,600 | $32,830 | $50,890 | 7,270 | 1.70 | 2.80 |
| 15 | Iowa profile | $19.83 | $41,240 | $32,130 | $70,520 | 170 | 0.11 | 0.18 |
| 16 | District of Columbia profile | $19.61 | $40,800 | $36,400 | $47,210 | 520 | 0.74 | 1.22 |
| 17 | Maine profile | $19.30 | $40,140 | $36,610 | $46,170 | 1,140 | 1.78 | 2.93 |
| 18 | Idaho profile | $19.26 | $40,060 | $34,730 | $61,190 | 470 | 0.55 | 0.90 |
| 19 | Illinois profile | $18.75 | $38,990 | $31,200 | $79,880 | 2,240 | 0.37 | 0.61 |
| 20 | Nebraska profile | $18.26 | $37,990 | $28,080 | $45,570 | 110 | 0.11 | 0.18 |
| 21 | Colorado profile | $18.09 | $37,620 | $33,510 | $49,640 | 2,810 | 0.98 | 1.61 |
| 22 | Virginia profile | $18.06 | $37,560 | $30,160 | $47,060 | 1,940 | 0.47 | 0.78 |
| 23 | Arizona profile | $18.00 | $37,440 | $30,580 | $45,760 | 2,170 | 0.67 | 1.11 |
| 24 | Indiana profile | $18.00 | $37,440 | $27,970 | $65,140 | 2,230 | 0.70 | 1.15 |
| 25 | Ohio profile | $18.00 | $37,440 | $28,180 | $61,690 | 2,700 | 0.49 | 0.80 |
| 26 | Michigan profile | $17.57 | $36,540 | $26,810 | $46,410 | 2,150 | 0.49 | 0.80 |
| 27 | Delaware profile | $17.55 | $36,500 | $32,690 | $45,500 | 580 | 1.20 | 1.98 |
| 28 | Tennessee profile | $17.29 | $35,960 | $32,610 | $48,530 | 1,460 | 0.44 | 0.73 |
| 29 | Maryland profile | $17.24 | $35,850 | $31,200 | $58,750 | 3,420 | 1.24 | 2.04 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania profile | $17.22 | $35,810 | $30,680 | $59,190 | 9,410 | 1.55 | 2.56 |
| 31 | Florida profile | $17.18 | $35,730 | $29,170 | $43,410 | 5,690 | 0.57 | 0.94 |
| 32 | Wisconsin profile | $17.11 | $35,580 | $28,060 | $48,490 | 990 | 0.34 | 0.55 |
| 33 | Utah profile | $17.06 | $35,480 | $28,310 | $43,080 | 1,890 | 1.09 | 1.79 |
| 34 | Kansas profile | $17.04 | $35,440 | $28,290 | $43,520 | 180 | 0.12 | 0.20 |
| 35 | Kentucky profile | $16.56 | $34,450 | $32,140 | $38,940 | 420 | 0.21 | 0.34 |
| 36 | Georgia profile | $16.46 | $34,230 | $21,550 | $46,920 | 2,030 | 0.42 | 0.68 |
| 37 | North Carolina profile | $16.21 | $33,730 | $29,500 | $36,150 | 2,760 | 0.56 | 0.92 |
| 38 | Missouri profile | $16.13 | $33,560 | $28,600 | $52,070 | 150 | 0.05 | 0.08 |
| 39 | Texas profile | $16.03 | $33,350 | $25,330 | $42,760 | 2,830 | 0.20 | 0.33 |
| 40 | West Virginia profile | $15.77 | $32,800 | $29,720 | $80,280 | 1,190 | 1.70 | 2.80 |
| 41 | South Carolina profile | $15.72 | $32,690 | $28,690 | $76,020 | 1,050 | 0.46 | 0.75 |
| 42 | Montana profile | $15.67 | $32,600 | $28,300 | $85,080 | 70 | 0.13 | 0.21 |
| 43 | Nevada profile | $15.13 | $31,480 | $26,770 | $48,060 | 1,500 | 0.97 | 1.59 |
| 44 | New Mexico profile | $15.13 | $31,460 | $31,450 | $42,650 | 510 | 0.59 | 0.97 |
| 45 | Rhode Island profile | $15.00 | $31,200 | $31,200 | $62,370 | ** | ** | ** |
| 46 | Arkansas profile | $14.82 | $30,830 | $22,880 | $34,990 | ** | ** | ** |
| 47 | Alabama profile | $14.03 | $29,190 | $19,360 | $43,170 | 250 | 0.12 | 0.20 |
| 48 | Oklahoma profile | $13.76 | $28,610 | $22,220 | $35,970 | 130 | 0.08 | 0.13 |
| 49 | Louisiana profile | $12.24 | $25,450 | $15,080 | $44,240 | 440 | 0.23 | 0.38 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (33-9090), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Protective Service Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 33-9091 Crossing Guards and Flaggers.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 33-9091, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 33-9091.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.