Career comparison
School Bus Driver vs. School Bus Monitor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
School bus drivers earn more at the median ($47,920 vs. $35,100), while school bus monitors usually get to work faster (A few days to weeks of training). School bus drivers get students to school and home safely every day. School bus monitors ride school buses to keep students safe and help them on and off.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| School Bus Driver | School Bus Monitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $47,920 ($23.04/hr) | $35,100 ($16.88/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $29,240 – $65,730 | $28,130 – $43,250 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +0.7% (little or no change) | -1.9% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 56,500 | 13,400 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 3–8 weeks | A few days to weeks |
| Key credential | CDL Class B or C | Monitor training |
| Work setting | Drivers work in large buses on city, suburban and rural roads in all weather. | Monitors work on school buses.. |
What each job does
School Bus Driver
- Inspect the bus before and after each route
- Drive assigned routes on schedule
- Load and unload students safely at stops
- Follow railroad crossing and danger zone procedures
- Manage student behavior and report incidents
School Bus Monitor
- Help students board and exit
- Secure wheelchairs and seats
- Manage behavior
- Assist students with disabilities
- Communicate with drivers
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, helping others, and steady routines. Both are part of the transportation & logistics field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose school bus driver if…
- I like working with kids
- I can stay calm with noise and distractions
- I’m a careful, defensive driver
Choose school bus monitor if…
- I like kids
- I’m patient
- I stay calm
Still torn? Take the School Bus Driver fit quiz and the School Bus Monitor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, school bus driver or school bus monitor?
School Bus Drivers earn more at the median: $47,920 versus $35,100 for school bus monitors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
School Bus Monitors typically train faster (A few days to weeks) than school bus drivers (3–8 weeks).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects school bus drivers to grow +0.7% from 2025–35, compared with -1.9% for school bus monitors.