Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a School Bus Monitor
What school bus monitors actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a school bus monitor?
Check in at the bus yard. From there, the day usually includes help students board and exit, secure wheelchairs and seats, and manage behavior. Part-time split shifts on the school calendar.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a school bus monitor working full time.
- Check in at the bus yard.
- Check safety equipment.
- Ride the morning route.
- Secure a wheelchair.
- Help students into school.
- Ride the afternoon route.
- Write an incident note.
Where school bus monitors work
Monitors work on school buses.
Hours and schedule
Part-time split shifts on the school calendar.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Help students board and exit
- Secure wheelchairs and seats
- Manage behavior
- Assist students with disabilities
- Communicate with drivers
- Help in emergencies
- Report incidents
Tools you’ll use every day
- Wheelchair restraints
- Child safety seats
- Radios
- First aid kits
- Seat charts
- Incident forms
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- School schedule
- Help kids
- Short training
- Summers off
What’s hard
- Split shifts
- Behavior challenges
- Low pay
- Part-time hours
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I like kids
- I’m patient
- I stay calm
- I want a school schedule
- I like helping
- I want short training
Not sure? Take the free School Bus Monitor fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Watch the danger zone
- Secure all students
- Know emergency exits
- Follow reporting rules