How to become a Crossing Guard or Flagger

Official title: Crossing Guards and Flaggers

Also called: Adult Crossing Guard, Community Service Officer, Crossing Guard, Road Crossing Guard, School Crossing Guard, Substitute Crossing Guard

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

Main tasks

• 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.
• Record license numbers of vehicles disregarding traffic signals, and report infractions to appropriate authorities.

How to become one

Typical education to start: No formal educational credential

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $38,100 a year The middle half earn $34,430 to $47,540.
• About 94,800 people work in this job now, and about 98,100 are projected by 2035. (+3.5%)
• People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Related jobs

• Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
• Transportation Security Screeners
• School Bus Monitors
• Retail Loss Prevention Specialists

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Questions people ask

How much does a Crossing Guard or Flagger earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $38,100 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $34,430 to $47,540.

Is a Crossing Guard or Flagger a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 94,800 to about 98,100 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Crossing Guard or Flagger?

Usually not. Only 11% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Crossing Guard or Flagger?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.