# Crossing Guards and Flaggers

US SOC code 33-9091. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/33-9091

Also called: Crossing guard, School crossing guard, Traffic flagger, Road flagger, Work zone flagger.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **94,360** US crossing guards and flaggers, with median pay of **$38,100** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2021, the May 2025 count is the highest. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://www.roadtrafficsigns.com/history-of-sign-paddles-and-crossing-guards) of **35,000** from 1955, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for crossing guards and flaggers: High-visibility apparel and walkie-talkies, 1990 to 2023.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=33-9091&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **26.3%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend.

## Crossing Guards and Flaggers employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1921
- Latest US employment: 94,360 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [4]
- Latest US median pay: $38,100 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [6]
- Outlook: +3.5% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [19]

### All 27 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1955 | 35,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Road Traffic Signs [1] |
| 1970 | 55,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., OSH Act of 1970 [2] |
| 1980 | n/a | $6,800 (estimate) | Est., BLS [5] |
| 1990 | 68,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., BLS [3] |
| 2003 | 70,820 | $18,860 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [4] |
| 2004 | 70,180 | $19,300 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [4] |
| 2005 | 69,390 | $20,050 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [4] |
| 2006 | 67,750 | $21,060 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [4] |
| 2007 | 67,570 | $22,140 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [4] |
| 2008 | 68,530 | $22,790 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [4] |
| 2009 | 68,470 | $23,390 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [4] |
| 2010 | 68,740 | $23,610 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [4] |
| 2011 | 68,520 | $23,440 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [4] |
| 2012 | 70,390 | $23,910 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [4] |
| 2013 | 68,050 | $23,890 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [4] |
| 2014 | 66,310 | $24,750 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [4] |
| 2015 | 68,640 | $25,100 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [4] |
| 2016 | 72,900 | $26,700 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [4] |
| 2017 | 76,440 | $27,630 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [4] |
| 2018 | 79,880 | $28,960 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [4] |
| 2019 | 84,920 | $29,760 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [4] |
| 2020 | 85,050 | $30,790 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [4] |
| 2021 | 82,690 | $31,450 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [4] |
| 2022 | 91,270 | $33,380 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [4] |
| 2023 | 90,780 | $36,370 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [4] |
| 2024 | 90,180 | $37,700 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [4] |
| 2025 | 94,360 | $38,100 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [4] |

## Sources (81)

### Employment series

1. [Road Traffic Signs — "Sign Paddles and the American Crossing Guard: A History" (professionalization timeline, 1955 milestone)](https://www.roadtrafficsigns.com/history-of-sign-paddles-and-crossing-guards), Road Traffic Signs
2. [OSH Act of 1970 — OSHA Historical Notes (OSHA established December 29, 1970; construction standards issued 1972)](https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/oshact/historicalnotes), Occupational Safety and Health Administration
3. [BLS — Table 1. Distribution of employment from the 1990 to the 2002 Census Occupational Classification (historical occupational classification reference)](https://www.bls.gov/cps/majocc19902002.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
4. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Wage series

5. [BLS — Occupational Outlook Handbook 1980-81 Edition (FRASER archive: crossing guard wage reference era)](https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/files/docs/publications/bls/bls_2075_1980_1.pdf), Bureau of Labor Statistics / FRASER
6. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Tool eras

7. [Road Traffic Signs — "Sign Paddles and the American Crossing Guard: A History" (1920s hand signals and flag era)](https://www.roadtrafficsigns.com/history-of-sign-paddles-and-crossing-guards), Road Traffic Signs
8. [Wikipedia — Junior safety patrol (AAA national program 1920s-1930s, Sam Browne belt equipment)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junior_safety_patrol), Wikipedia
9. [Wikipedia — Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD history: first edition 1935)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manual_on_Uniform_Traffic_Control_Devices), Wikipedia
10. [Summit Flagging — "The History of Traffic Control Safety: Ensuring Safer Roads for All" (1935 MUTCD milestone)](https://summitflagging.com/the-history-of-traffic-control-safety-ensuring-safer-roads-for-all/), Summit Flagging
11. [OSHA 1926.201 — Signaling: flaggers and warning garments shall conform to MUTCD Part VI (1972 adoption)](https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.201), Occupational Safety and Health Administration
12. [OSHA — Highway Work Zones and Signs, Signals, and Barricades: Overview (high-visibility garment requirements)](https://www.osha.gov/highway-workzones), Occupational Safety and Health Administration
13. [ATSSA — Work Zone Terminology For New Employees/Traffic Control Technicians (high-vis and communication equipment)](https://www.atssa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/WZTerminologyNewEmployees_ATSSA.pdf), American Traffic Safety Services Association
14. [FHWA — MUTCD 2003 Edition Revision 1: AFAD Technical Provisions (interim approval January 2005)](https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2003r1/afad/afad_tech012705.htm), Federal Highway Administration
15. [Wikipedia — Automated Flagger Assistance Device (AFAD history, 2018 Missouri study, safety data)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_Flagger_Assistance_Device), Wikipedia
16. [CPWR Construction Solutions — Automated Flagging Assistant Devices (AFAD) overview](https://www.cpwrconstructionsolutions.org/solution/934/automated-flagging-assistant-devices-afad.html), CPWR Center for Construction Research and Training
17. [ConnVAS MAGIC smart crosswalk pilot, Pinckneyville Middle School, Peachtree Corners GA — February 2025](https://highways.today/2025/02/20/smart-crosswalk-technology/), Highways Today
18. [Derq Smart Pedestrian Crossing System — Dubai Silicon Oasis deployment (14 intersections, AI behavior prediction)](https://en.derq.com/press-coverage/diez-and-derq-launch-ai-powered-smart-pedestrian-crossing-system-in-dso), Derq

### Forecasts and exposure studies

19. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 33-9091 Crossing guards and flaggers (2025: 94.8 thousand; 2035: 98.1 thousand; +3.5%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=33-9091&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
20. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 33-9091.00, human-rated β 0.263)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

21. [Road Traffic Signs — "Sign Paddles and the American Crossing Guard: A History" (St. Paul 1921 first patrol)](https://www.roadtrafficsigns.com/history-of-sign-paddles-and-crossing-guards), Road Traffic Signs
22. [AAA — "Belts and Badges: A Century of the AAA School Safety Patrol" (national program 1930s, 1936 Capitol rally)](https://www.acg.aaa.com/connect/blogs/4c/membership/aaa-school-safety-patrol), AAA / Automobile Club Group
23. [Francis Ryan (2023) — "You'll Never Walk Alone: School Crossing Guard Associations and Labor Feminism in the Postwar United States" (Labor, Duke University Press)](https://read.dukeupress.edu/labor/article-abstract/20/1/49/351954/You-ll-Never-Walk-Alone-School-Crossing-Guard), Duke University Press / Labor
24. [OSHA — OSH Act of 1970 Historical Notes (signed December 29, 1970; construction standards 1972)](https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/oshact/historicalnotes), Occupational Safety and Health Administration
25. [Transportation History — "The Role of Flaggers Throughout the Years" (Utah first state flagger training 1975)](https://transportationhistory.org/2020/04/24/national-work-zone-awareness-week-nwzaw-the-role-of-flaggers-throughout-the-years/), Transportation History
26. [FHWA MUTCD 2003 Edition Revision 1 — AFAD Technical Provisions (interim approval January 27, 2005)](https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2003r1/afad/afad_tech012705.htm), Federal Highway Administration
27. [ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer — National Association of School Crossing Guards (EIN 83-3216040, tax-exempt April 2019, Los Angeles CA, 501(c)(3) public safety)](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/833216040), ProPublica

### Predecessors & successors

28. [Crossing guard — Wikipedia (first programs operated by police departments, St. Paul 1921, municipal civilian hiring followed)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossing_guard), Wikipedia
29. [Francis Ryan, LAWCHA — "Memories of the Labor of School Crossing Guards" (postwar era crossing guard demographics)](https://lawcha.org/2023/06/13/francis-ryan-memories-of-the-labor-of-school-crossing-guards/), LAWCHA

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 30.3 — Crossing Guards and Flaggers (33-9091.00)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-9091.00), accessed 2026-06-05
- [BLS OEWS May 2024 — Crossing Guards and Flaggers: 91,400 employed, $37,700 median annual wage](https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes339091.htm), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science): task-level AI exposure model](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-06-05
- [ATSSA Flagger Certification — national standard; VDOT mandatory effective January 2025](https://www.atssa.com/training-certification/), accessed 2026-06-05
- [WillRobotsTakeMyJob — Crossing Guards and Flaggers automation risk estimate](https://willrobotstakemyjob.com/crossing-guards-and-flaggers), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Guardian SmartFlagger AFAD — records up to 80 hours of video footage](https://www.righttraffic.com/technology/guardian-smartflagger-afad), accessed 2026-06-05
- [ConnVAS MAGIC smart crosswalk pilot, Peachtree Corners GA — February 2025](https://highways.today/2025/02/20/smart-crosswalk-technology/), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Derq AI Smart Pedestrian Crossing System — Dubai Silicon Oasis deployment](https://en.derq.com/press-coverage/diez-and-derq-launch-ai-powered-smart-pedestrian-crossing-system-in-dso), accessed 2026-06-05

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.