Career comparison
School Bus Monitor vs. Teacher Assistant
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Teacher assistants earn more at the median ($36,780 vs. $35,100), while school bus monitors usually get to work faster (A few days to weeks of training). School bus monitors ride school buses to keep students safe and help them on and off. Teacher assistants support teachers and help students learn in classrooms.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| School Bus Monitor | Teacher Assistant | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $35,100 ($16.88/hr) | $36,780 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $28,130 – $43,250 | $27,150 – $50,040 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -1.9% (a projected decline) | -0.3% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 13,400 | 176,200 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | Some college, no degree |
| Training time | A few days to weeks | Weeks to 2 years depending on the district |
| Key credential | Monitor training | ParaPro Assessment |
| Work setting | Monitors work on school buses.. | Teacher assistants work in schools, in classrooms, special education rooms, cafeterias and playgrounds.. |
What each job does
School Bus Monitor
- Help students board and exit
- Secure wheelchairs and seats
- Manage behavior
- Assist students with disabilities
- Communicate with drivers
Teacher Assistant
- Work with small groups and individual students
- Reinforce lessons taught by the teacher
- Support students with disabilities
- Supervise students at lunch, recess and transitions
- Prepare classroom materials
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, working with people, and steady routines. They sit in different fields, transportation & logistics and education & childcare, but share transferable skills such as patience and patience.
Which should you choose?
Choose school bus monitor if…
- I like kids
- I’m patient
- I stay calm
Choose teacher assistant if…
- I want to help students learn
- I’m patient
- I like teamwork
Still torn? Take the School Bus Monitor fit quiz and the Teacher Assistant fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, school bus monitor or teacher assistant?
Teacher Assistants earn more at the median: $36,780 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 teacher assistants (Weeks to 2 years depending on the district).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects teacher assistants to grow -0.3% from 2025–35, compared with -1.9% for school bus monitors.