School Bus Monitors Salary in Columbia, SC
The median pay for a school bus monitors in Columbia, SC is $27,750/year ($13.34/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $20K at the entry level to $44K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $29,628 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,276/month — about 65% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $28K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (93.66). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, SC
Entry-level school bus monitors (10th percentile) start around $20K. Mid-career wages sit at $28K. Top earners bring in $44K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
School Bus Monitors pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $42K | +19% | 490 |
| Minnesota | $40K | +14% | 1,110 |
| Hawaii | $40K | +14% | 160 |
| California | $39K | +12% | 1,480 |
| Wyoming | $39K | +11% | 300 |
| Oregon | $38K | +8% | 450 |
| Delaware | $38K | +7% | 250 |
| Utah | $38K | +7% | 310 |
| Vermont | $37K | +7% | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $37K | +6% | 320 |
| New York | $37K | +6% | 18,040 |
| Connecticut | $37K | +6% | 990 |
| Maryland | $37K | +5% | 2,290 |
| District of Columbia | $37K | +5% | N/A |
| Massachusetts | $36K | +3% | 2,210 |
| Alaska | $36K | +3% | 150 |
| Rhode Island | $36K | +2% | N/A |
| New Jersey | $36K | +2% | 5,110 |
| New Hampshire | $35K | +1% | 140 |
| Illinois | $35K | +1% | 5,190 |
| New Mexico | $35K | -1% | 250 |
| Ohio | $34K | -2% | 820 |
| Arizona | $34K | -2% | 1,520 |
| Iowa | $34K | -2% | 400 |
| Nebraska | $34K | -4% | 390 |
| Virginia | $33K | -4% | 1,870 |
| Montana | $33K | -5% | 210 |
| North Carolina | $33K | -5% | 1,670 |
| Michigan | $33K | -6% | 2,040 |
| Florida | $33K | -6% | 3,640 |
| Missouri | $32K | -9% | 1,330 |
| Indiana | $32K | -10% | 2,030 |
| Pennsylvania | $31K | -11% | 2,180 |
| Maine | $31K | -11% | 170 |
| Georgia | $30K | -15% | 2,320 |
| Arkansas | $29K | -16% | 730 |
| Kansas | $29K | -16% | 1,000 |
| Texas | $29K | -17% | 5,080 |
| Nevada | $29K | -18% | 130 |
| Louisiana | $28K | -19% | 710 |
| Oklahoma | $28K | -20% | 640 |
| Kentucky | $28K | -21% | 360 |
| Tennessee | $28K | -21% | 690 |
| South Carolina | $27K | -23% | 790 |
| Alabama | $27K | -24% | 120 |
| Idaho | $27K | -24% | 160 |
| Mississippi | $23K | -35% | 600 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track school bus monitors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do school bus monitors make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $27,750 a year, that works out to about $13 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $20,380, and experienced school bus monitors can clear $44,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $28K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,004/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 63.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a school bus monitors salary go in Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 93.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median school bus monitors salary is worth about $29,628 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do school bus monitors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.