SalaryExplorer

SOC 33-9094 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

School Bus MonitorsSouth Dakota

South Dakota · 1 metro areas compared

$34,380 /year
$16.53per hour
140jobs in area
2.1%vs US median

The median wage here is $34,380 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $35,100.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $35,10010TH$32,820MEDIAN$34,38075TH$35,00090TH$35,650

Salary overview

The median wage here is $34,380 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $35,100. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $32,820 and $35,000. The lowest tenth earn under $32,820, while the highest tenth earn more than $35,650.

The area has 140 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.59 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. South Dakota ranks number 27th out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Rapid City records the highest median at $35,000. Of the 563 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 523rd.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · South Dakota · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$32,820−6.5%
25th$32,820−6.5%
Median (50th)$34,380−2.1%
75th$35,000−0.3%
90th$35,650+1.6%
Mean$34,330−2.2%

Highest-paying metro areas in South Dakota

Median annual wage for School Bus Monitors, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Rapid City$35,00040

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in South Dakota run 11.4% below the national average, so the median of $34,380 goes as far as $38,804 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.6% above the national median in real terms.

Published median

$34,380as reported by BLS

Local price level

88.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$38,804US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $34,380 a year, 2.1% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $32,820 to $35,650 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 140 jobs in this occupation.
  • It ranks 27th of 50 states for this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Rapid City, at $35,000.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for School Bus Monitors in South Dakota?

The median annual wage is $34,380, or $16.53 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.

Is that higher than the national average?

The national median for this occupation is $35,100, so pay in South Dakota is 2.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.

What do the top earners make?

The top tenth of this occupation in South Dakota earns more than $35,650 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $32,820 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.

Which area nearby pays the most?

The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Rapid City, at $35,000 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 140 jobs in this occupation in South Dakota. Self-employed workers are not included.

Source and methodology

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.

School Bus Monitors Salary in South Dakota (2025): $34,380 Median | Salary Explorer