Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Crossing Guards
Crossing Guards guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as streets, schools, railroad crossings, or construction sites.
Table of contents
What they do
Crossing Guards guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as streets, schools, railroad crossings, or construction sites.
- Direct or escort pedestrians across streets, stopping traffic as necessary.
- 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.
- Communicate traffic and crossing rules and other information to students and adults.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Crossing Guards stop speeding vehicles to warn drivers of traffic laws. They direct traffic movement or warn of hazards, using signs, flags, lanterns, and hand signals.
A typical day for a Crossing Guard will also include:
- Guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as street and railroad crossings and construction sites.
- Communicate traffic and crossing rules and other information to students and adults.
- Direct or escort pedestrians across streets, stopping traffic as necessary.
- Distribute traffic control signs and markers at designated points.
- Monitor traffic flow to locate safe gaps through which pedestrians can cross streets.
We asked some Crossing Guards a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.
| Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? | 0% said yes |
| How important is it to work in a team in this job? | 30% said very important |
| Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? | 56% said yes |
| Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? | 54% said yes |
| Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? | 4% said yes |
| Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? | 84% said yes |
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Crossing Guards also record license numbers of vehicles disregarding traffic signals, and report infractions to appropriate authorities. They may also discuss traffic routing plans and control point locations with superiors.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Crossing Guards inform drivers of detour routes through construction sites. They might also distribute traffic control signs and markers at designated points.
In addition, they stop speeding vehicles to warn drivers of traffic laws.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them report unsafe behavior of children to school officials.
To some Crossing Guards, it is also their responsibility to communicate traffic and crossing rules and other information to students and adults.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
70% said they were satisfied with their job and 72% said they found their job meaningful.
Pros
Suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work outdoors.
It is very easy to get into this career. Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Short working hours (Less than 40 hours per week).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to solve problems mentally.
One of the lowest paying jobs.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Crossing Guards with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $20,960 to $25,680 per year or $10 to $12 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $51,500 | $25 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $39,520 | $19 |
| Median | $30,790 | $15 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $25,680 | $12 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $20,960 | $10 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Crossing Guards based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Nonresidential Building Construction | $59050 | $28.39 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | $50490 | $24.27 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $41550 | $19.98 |
| Utility System Construction | $41520 | $19.96 |
| Other Personal Services | $38870 | $18.69 |
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | $38760 | $18.63 |
| State Government | $38260 | $18.39 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $37900 | $18.22 |
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | $36720 | $17.65 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | $35730 | $17.18 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Crossing Guards work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Crossing Guards including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government | 38380 | $34260 | $16.47 |
| Other Support Services | 28200 | $35180 | $16.92 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | 8510 | $28870 | $13.88 |
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | 2510 | $36720 | $17.65 |
| Employment Services | 2300 | $34480 | $16.58 |
| Investigation and Security Services | 1600 | $30650 | $14.74 |
| Utility System Construction | 1080 | $41520 | $19.96 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 590 | $37900 | $18.22 |
| State Government | 310 | $38260 | $18.39 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 170 | $59050 | $28.39 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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