Occupations · Protective Service
Crossing Guards and Flaggers
Guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as streets, schools, railroad crossings, or construction sites.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 33-9091.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 100% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $44,190 | 13,110 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $37,840 | 3,840 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $42,510 | 2,540 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $36,980 | 2,380 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $38,820 | 2,310 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $36,430 | 2,100 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $48,970 | 1,950 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $58,450 | 1,800 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $48,550 | 1,790 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $35,710 | 1,670 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | $34,020 | 1,420 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $33,140 | 1,300 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: No formal educational credential · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
What people in this job actually do
Ordered by how important the work is rated.
- 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.
- Distribute traffic control signs and markers at designated points.
- Report unsafe behavior of children to school officials.
- Stop speeding vehicles to warn drivers of traffic laws.
- Learn the location and purpose of street traffic signs within assigned patrol areas.
- Record license numbers of vehicles disregarding traffic signals, and report infractions to appropriate authorities.
- Discuss traffic routing plans and control-point locations with superiors.
- Inform drivers of detour routes through construction sites.
O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale
Skills that matter most
Importance, rated 1 to 5.
O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
Working conditions that stand out
O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2016-07
How people actually get in
Share of workers by the education they hold.
O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2016-07
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
What you take with you
Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.
O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale
Knowledge the work draws on
Abilities it leans on
O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| level crossing signalperson | 8312.1 | close |
| crossing guard | 5419.4 | broader |
| rail traffic controller | 4323.13 | broader |
| rail switchperson | 8312.2 | broader |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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