Pay vs cost of living
How far does a School Bus Monitor's pay go, state by state?
A School Bus Monitor's pay leaves the most room in North Dakota — about $2,436/mo take-home against $911/mo typical rent — and the least in Idaho.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $2,436/mo | $911/mo | 37% |
| Rhode Island | $2,768/mo | $1,289/mo | 47% |
| Wyoming | $2,337/mo | $979/mo | 42% |
| Minnesota | $2,443/mo | $1,230/mo | 50% |
| Arkansas | $2,045/mo | $903/mo | 44% |
| Iowa | $2,007/mo | $932/mo | 46% |
| New Mexico | $2,085/mo | $1,034/mo | 50% |
| Delaware | $2,367/mo | $1,321/mo | 56% |
| Nebraska | $2,054/mo | $1,017/mo | 50% |
| South Dakota | $1,929/mo | $910/mo | 47% |
| Missouri | $1,977/mo | $997/mo | 50% |
| Michigan | $2,026/mo | $1,072/mo | 53% |
| Vermont | $2,155/mo | $1,207/mo | 56% |
| Alabama | $1,909/mo | $967/mo | 51% |
| Ohio | $1,928/mo | $986/mo | 51% |
| Indiana | $1,953/mo | $1,022/mo | 52% |
| Kansas | $1,950/mo | $1,025/mo | 53% |
| Washington | $2,556/mo | $1,641/mo | 64% |
| Oregon | $2,342/mo | $1,431/mo | 61% |
| Maine | $2,012/mo | $1,104/mo | 55% |
| Wisconsin | $1,932/mo | $1,033/mo | 53% |
| Connecticut | $2,337/mo | $1,483/mo | 63% |
| North Carolina | $1,999/mo | $1,147/mo | 57% |
| Illinois | $2,096/mo | $1,246/mo | 59% |
| Utah | $2,241/mo | $1,396/mo | 62% |
| Montana | $1,855/mo | $1,031/mo | 56% |
| New York | $2,415/mo | $1,621/mo | 67% |
| Pennsylvania | $1,970/mo | $1,176/mo | 60% |
| Alaska | $2,137/mo | $1,361/mo | 64% |
| Georgia | $2,080/mo | $1,320/mo | 63% |
| Oklahoma | $1,694/mo | $970/mo | 57% |
| Tennessee | $1,823/mo | $1,111/mo | 61% |
| South Carolina | $1,818/mo | $1,131/mo | 62% |
| New Hampshire | $2,083/mo | $1,424/mo | 68% |
| Louisiana | $1,659/mo | $1,028/mo | 62% |
| Colorado | $2,288/mo | $1,659/mo | 73% |
| Texas | $1,949/mo | $1,328/mo | 68% |
| Mississippi | $1,543/mo | $933/mo | 60% |
| New Jersey | $2,236/mo | $1,656/mo | 74% |
| California | $2,545/mo | $1,969/mo | 77% |
| Arizona | $1,968/mo | $1,419/mo | 72% |
| Maryland | $2,228/mo | $1,683/mo | 76% |
| Massachusetts | $2,213/mo | $1,716/mo | 78% |
| Nevada | $1,968/mo | $1,478/mo | 75% |
| Virginia | $1,990/mo | $1,547/mo | 78% |
| Florida | $1,960/mo | $1,542/mo | 79% |
| Idaho | $1,578/mo | $1,163/mo | 74% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.