Crossing Guards and Flaggers
Guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as streets, schools, railroad crossings, or construction sites.
Also called: Adult Crossing Guard · Community Service Officer · Crossing Guard · Road Crossing Guard · School Crossing Guard · Substitute Crossing Guard
Median pay (national)
$37,700
$29,940–$61,440 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
90,180
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+3.6%
~18,000 openings/yr
Typical entry
No formal educational credential
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for crossing guards and flaggers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $61,440 versus $29,940 at the bottom 10% — 2.1x. The median of $37,700 leaves roughly 63% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +3.6% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 18,000 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 50 states with released data, North Dakota pays the most for this role (median $60,940, +62% vs the national median), while Louisiana sits lowest at $22,980 — a 165% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Speaking, Active Listening, Monitoring as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Communicate traffic and crossing rules and other information to students and adults.
- Record license numbers of vehicles disregarding traffic signals, and report infractions to appropriate authorities.
- Guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as street and railroad crossings and construction sites.
- Monitor traffic flow to locate safe gaps through which pedestrians can cross streets.
- Direct traffic movement or warn of hazards, using signs, flags, lanterns, and hand signals.
- Direct or escort pedestrians across streets, stopping traffic, as necessary.
- Report unsafe behavior of children to school officials.
- Stop speeding vehicles to warn drivers of traffic laws.
- Learn the location and purpose of street traffic signs within assigned patrol areas.
- Distribute traffic control signs and markers at designated points.
Tools & technology
- Payroll software
- Visual Computer Solutions Crossing Guard Scheduling
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Public Safety and Security
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Law and Government
- Psychology
- Education and Training
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Administration and Management