School Bus Monitors pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $35,410 or more. The middle half of school bus monitors in Columbia earn between $21,400 and $27,780.
- $18K10th
- $21K25th
- $28KMedian
- $28K75th
- $35K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $26,960 | $2,247 | $12.96 |
| Median | $27,780 | $2,315 | $13.36 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $21,400 | $1,783 | $10.29 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $27,780 | $2,315 | $13.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
School Bus Monitors pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
School bus monitors in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($26,730) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($35,150). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $35,100.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $26,960 | $27,780 | $17,840 | $35,410 | n/a |
| South Carolina | $26,730 | $26,240 | $17,490 | $36,090 | 1,180 |
| United States | $35,150 | $35,100 | $28,130 | $43,250 | 78,420 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
School Bus Monitors salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $26,960, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $23,574 a year, or $1,964 a month and $907 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for school bus monitors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $26,960 buys what about $28,784 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 9.5 years of this average salary before tax.
School Bus Monitors salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 4th of 4 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($33,730).
- Charleston$33,730
- Spartanburg$27,940
- Greenville$27,060
- Columbia$26,960
Highest-paying cities for school bus monitors
Seattle, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($49,210).
- Seattle, WA$49,210
- San Francisco, CA$44,050
- Portland, OR$43,110
- Sacramento, CA$42,030
- Rochester, MN$41,990
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School Bus Monitors salary in Columbia: questions
How much do school bus monitors make an hour in Columbia?
$12.96 an hour on average, and $13.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level school bus monitors salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $21,400, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the school bus monitors take-home pay in Columbia?
About $23,574 a year ($1,964 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $26,960.
Do school bus monitors earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,150).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-9094; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
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