Crossing Guards and Flaggers

Guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as streets, schools, railroad crossings, or construction sites.

What you'd actually do

• 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.
• Direct traffic movement or warn of hazards, using signs, flags, lanterns, and hand signals.
• Report unsafe behavior of children to school officials.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Less than high school. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the work happens outdoors. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 0% of crossing guards and flaggers are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are hands-on, organized and detail-focused and people-focused.

Related careers

• Transportation Security Screeners
• Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
• First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers
• First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
• Detectives and Criminal Investigators
• First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

Quick questions

How much does a crossing guards and flagger make?

The median pay is $18.32 per hour — roughly $38,000 a year, with the real range running from about $14.83/hr (10th percentile) to $29.66/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a crossing guards and flagger?

The typical entry-level education is: Less than high school. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

What does a crossing guards and flagger actually do all day?

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.