How much does a crossing guard and flagger make?
The median crossing guard and flagger in the United States earns $38,100 per year, about $18.32 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all crossing guards and flaggers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 33-9091.
Crossing guard and flagger salary range
Pay for crossing guards and flaggers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $30,840 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $61,690. The average (mean) wage of $43,350 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,840 | $14.83 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $34,430 | $16.55 | |
| Median (50th) | $38,100 | $18.32 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $47,540 | $22.86 | |
| 90th percentile | $61,690 | $29.66 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for crossing guards and flaggers (SOC 33-9091), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Crossing guard and flagger salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Crossing guards and flaggers earn the most in North Dakota at $60,230 a year, and the least in Louisiana at $25,450. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $60,230 | 50 |
| California | $50,610 | 9,390 |
| Washington | $48,940 | 3,340 |
| Minnesota | $48,100 | 260 |
| Oregon | $47,110 | 2,250 |
| Wyoming | $47,070 | 160 |
| South Dakota | $46,940 | 60 |
| New Hampshire | $45,980 | 440 |
| Vermont | $45,410 | 340 |
| New York | $44,730 | 10,430 |
| Massachusetts | $43,460 | 1,700 |
| Hawaii | $42,780 | 230 |
| Connecticut | $41,950 | 1,670 |
| New Jersey | $41,600 | 7,270 |
| Iowa | $41,240 | 170 |
| District of Columbia | $40,800 | 520 |
| Maine | $40,140 | 1,140 |
| Idaho | $40,060 | 470 |
| Illinois | $38,990 | 2,240 |
| Nebraska | $37,990 | 110 |
| Colorado | $37,620 | 2,810 |
| Virginia | $37,560 | 1,940 |
| Arizona | $37,440 | 2,170 |
| Indiana | $37,440 | 2,230 |
| Ohio | $37,440 | 2,700 |
| Michigan | $36,540 | 2,150 |
| Delaware | $36,500 | 580 |
| Tennessee | $35,960 | 1,460 |
| Maryland | $35,850 | 3,420 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,810 | 9,410 |
| Florida | $35,730 | 5,690 |
| Wisconsin | $35,580 | 990 |
| Utah | $35,480 | 1,890 |
| Kansas | $35,440 | 180 |
| Kentucky | $34,450 | 420 |
| Georgia | $34,230 | 2,030 |
| North Carolina | $33,730 | 2,760 |
| Missouri | $33,560 | 150 |
| Texas | $33,350 | 2,830 |
| West Virginia | $32,800 | 1,190 |
| South Carolina | $32,690 | 1,050 |
| Montana | $32,600 | 70 |
| Nevada | $31,480 | 1,500 |
| New Mexico | $31,460 | 510 |
| Rhode Island | $31,200 | N/A |
| Arkansas | $30,830 | N/A |
| Alabama | $29,190 | 250 |
| Oklahoma | $28,610 | 130 |
| Louisiana | $25,450 | 440 |
State median wages for crossing guards and flaggers (SOC 33-9091), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for crossing guards and flaggers
The BLS projects employment of crossing guards and flaggers to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 94,800 jobs in 2025 moving toward 98,100 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 17,300 openings a year for crossing guards and flaggers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a crossing guard and flagger
The typical entry-level education for crossing guards and flaggers is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a crossing guard and flagger earns
Employer, region, seniority, rank, and overtime shape take-home pay. Large departments, unions, and high cost areas raise the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (North Dakota, $60,230) and the lowest (Louisiana, $25,450) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 94,360 people work as crossing guards and flaggers in the United States. At $38,100 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Crossing guard and flagger salary FAQ
How much does a crossing guard and flagger make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a crossing guard and flagger is $18.32. The middle half of crossing guards and flaggers earn between $16.55 and $22.86 per hour.
What is the highest crossing guard and flagger salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of crossing guards and flaggers earn more than $61,690 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a crossing guard and flagger make a year?
The median annual salary for a crossing guard and flagger is $38,100. The average (mean) wage of $43,350 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a crossing guard and flagger a well paid job?
At $38,100 a year, a crossing guard and flagger earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 94,360 people work as crossing guards and flaggers in the United States.
Which state pays crossing guards and flaggers the most?
North Dakota has the highest median salary for crossing guards and flaggers at $60,230 a year. California ($50,610) and Washington ($48,940) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a crossing guard and flagger a good career?
Employment of crossing guards and flaggers is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 17,300 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a crossing guard and flagger?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for crossing guards and flaggers as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
Related salaries
See more in Public Safety salaries or browse the highest paying jobs in the U.S.