Crossing Guards and Flaggers
33-9091.00
Bright Outlook Updated 2022

Guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as streets, schools, railroad crossings, or construction sites.

Sample of reported job titles: Adult Crossing Guard, Community Service Officer, Crossing Guard, Road Crossing Guard, School Crossing Guard, Substitute Crossing Guard

Occupation-Specific Information

Tasks

  • Direct or escort pedestrians across streets, stopping traffic, as necessary.
  • Guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as street and railroad crossings and construction sites.
  • Monitor traffic flow to locate safe gaps through which pedestrians can cross streets.
  • Communicate traffic and crossing rules and other information to students and adults.
  • Direct traffic movement or warn of hazards, using signs, flags, lanterns, and hand signals.
  • Report unsafe behavior of children to school officials.
  • Record license numbers of vehicles disregarding traffic signals, and report infractions to appropriate authorities.
  • Distribute traffic control signs and markers at designated points.
  • Stop speeding vehicles to warn drivers of traffic laws.
  • Learn the location and purpose of street traffic signs within assigned patrol areas.
  • Discuss traffic routing plans and control-point locations with superiors.
  • Inform drivers of detour routes through construction sites.
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Technology Skills

Hot technology Hot Technologies are requirements frequently included in employer job postings.

Occupational Requirements

Work Activities

  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Detailed Work Activities

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Work Context

  • Outdoors, Exposed to Weather — 99% responded “Every day.”
  • Spend Time Standing — 88% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Deal With External Customers — 71% responded “Extremely important.”
  • Very Hot or Cold Temperatures — 62% responded “Every day.”
  • Exposed to Contaminants — 77% responded “Every day.”
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 52% responded “A lot of freedom.”
  • Frequency of Decision Making — 78% responded “Every day.”
  • Contact With Others — 59% responded “Constant contact with others.”
  • Physical Proximity — 55% responded “Very close (near touching).”
  • Spend Time Walking and Running — 69% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Consequence of Error — 52% responded “Extremely serious.”
  • Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable — 48% responded “Every day.”
  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 75% responded “Every day.”
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 37% responded “Very important.”
  • Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions — 41% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Structured versus Unstructured Work — 47% responded “A lot of freedom.”
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 48% responded “Every day.”
  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — 65% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 43% responded “Very important results.”
  • Work With Work Group or Team — 38% responded “Extremely important.”
  • Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People — 29% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”

Experience Requirements

Job Zone

Title
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Job Zone Examples
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
SVP Range
3 months to 1 year of preparation (4.0 to < 6.0)

Training & Credentials

State training
Local training
Certifications
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Apprenticeships
Have a career path or location in mind? Visit Apprenticeship.gov external site to find apprenticeship opportunities near you.

Worker Requirements

Skills

  • Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Knowledge

  • Public Safety and Security — Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Education

How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:

  • 73%
     
    High school diploma or equivalent required
  • 18%
     
    Less than high school diploma required
  • 6%
     
    Some college, no degree required

Worker Characteristics

Abilities

  • Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Far Vision — The ability to see details at a distance.
  • Selective Attention — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Interests

Interest code: SER
Want to discover your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move.
  • Social — Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
  • Enterprising — Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
  • Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Work Values

  • Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
  • Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
  • Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Work Styles

  • Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
  • Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
  • Self-Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
  • Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
  • Independence — Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
  • Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
  • Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
  • Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
  • Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
  • Social Orientation — Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
  • Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
  • Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
  • Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
  • Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Workforce Characteristics

Wages & Employment Trends

Median wages (2021)
$15.12 hourly, $31,450 annual
State wages
Local wages
Employment (2020)
85,500 employees
Projected growth (2020-2030)
Faster than average (10% to 15%)
Projected job openings (2020-2030)
19,100
State trends
Top industries (2020)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2021 wage data external site and 2020-2030 employment projections external site. “Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2020-2030). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.

Job Openings on the Web

State job openings
Local job openings

More Information

Sources of Additional Information

Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.