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Salary comparison

Crossing Guards and Flaggers vs. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers: Who Earns More?

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers out-earn Crossing Guards and Flaggers by $38K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Crossing Guards and Flaggers land at $38,100 and Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers at $76,210. The education gap is real: crossing guards and flagger programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while police and sheriff's patrol officer programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Crossing Guards and Flaggers is North Dakota ($60,230); for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers it's California ($118,880).

Crossing Guards and Flaggers
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Median salary
$38,100
$76,210
Hourly rate
$18.32/hr
$36.64/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$30,840
$47,510
Senior level (90th %)
$61,690
$115,120
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
94,360
670,520
Job growth (10-year)
3.6%
3.1%
Category
Public Safety
Public Safety
Top-paying state
North Dakota
California

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Crossing Guards and Flaggers median pay.

State
Crossing Guards and Flaggers
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
California
$50,610
$118,880
Washington
$48,940
$102,080
Minnesota
$48,100
$83,360
Oregon
$47,110
$88,140
New York
$44,730
$92,790
Massachusetts
$43,460
$78,940
Hawaii
$42,780
$83,820
Connecticut
$41,950
$82,170
New Jersey
$41,600
$92,610
District of Columbia
$40,800
$88,650
Illinois
$38,990
$100,520
Colorado
$37,620
$97,350
Arizona
$37,440
$78,880
Delaware
$36,500
$92,970
Pennsylvania
$35,810
$85,470

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Crossing Guards and Flaggers or Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earn more nationally. The median is $38,100 for Crossing Guards and Flaggers versus $76,210 for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, a difference of $38K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Crossing Guards and Flaggers or Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

Crossing Guards and Flaggers has the better 10-year outlook at 3.6% projected growth, compared to 3.1% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Crossing Guards and Flaggers or Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

Crossing Guards and Flaggers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Crossing Guards and Flaggers get paid the most?

North Dakota is the top-paying state for Crossing Guards and Flaggers at $60,230/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Crossing Guards and Flaggers vs. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Crossing Guards and Flaggers earn $50,610 vs. $118,880 for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Crossing Guards and Flaggers salary breakdownView →Full Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Crossing Guards and Flaggers by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers by take-home payExplore →How to become a crossing guards and flaggersGuide →How to become a police and sheriff's patrol officersGuide →