School midday and crossing patrol occupations: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time school midday and crossing patrol occupations in the UK earned a median £21,678 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 44% less than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
Just 3 of 382 occupations with a published full-time median are lower.
Median full-time pay: women £13.61 an hour, men £14.37 an hour.
Full-time paid hours are shorter than usual, a median of 35.1 a week.
Since 2021 the median has risen 37.5% (from £361.20), faster than the 25.7% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 49,800 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | – | – | – | £1,638 | £33.90 | £12.22 |
| 20th percentile | – | – | – | £2,821 | £62.20 | £12.39 |
| 25th percentile | – | – | – | £3,016 | £67.00 | £12.45 |
| 30th percentile | – | – | – | £3,331 | £73.70 | £12.55 |
| 40th percentile | – | – | – | £3,866 | £83.40 | £12.66 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £21,678 | £496.50 | £14.22 | £4,263 | £93.10 | £13.06 |
| 60th percentile | – | £523.90* | – | £4,699 | £103.60 | £13.73 |
| 70th percentile | – | – | – | £5,347 | £119.90 | £14.26 |
| 75th percentile | – | – | – | £5,622 | £125.80 | £14.51 |
| 80th percentile | – | – | – | £6,187* | £144.40* | £14.84 |
| 90th percentile | – | – | – | – | – | £16.17 |
| Mean | £24,862 | £519.90 | £14.49 | £5,487 | £119.90 | £13.98 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | – | £361.20 | £9.45 | £3,170 | £70.50 | 86 |
| 2022 revised | – | – | – | £3,355 | £74.00 | 66 |
| 2023 revised | – | £467.70 | £13.21 | £3,600 | £80.60 | 64 |
| 2024 revised | £19,857 | £447.10* | £12.96 | £4,094 | £88.10 | 73 |
| 2025 provisional | £21,678 | £496.50 | £14.22 | £4,263 | £93.10 | 80 |
School midday and crossing patrol occupations by region
UK: 49,800 (± 8,700), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What school midday and crossing patrol occupations do
School midday and crossing patrol occupations supervise the activities of school children during break and meal times and assist children to cross roads in the vicinity of schools. (ONS SOC 2020, 9232)
Also covers: dinner lady (schools), lunchtime supervisor, midday assistant, school crossing patrol officer, children's superintendent, children's supervisor, crossing attendant, crossing patroller, crossing warden, dinner controller, dinner supervisor, lollipop man, lunch controller, lunchtime assistant, lunchtime auxiliary, lunchtime controller, lunchtime organiser and mealtime assistant (43 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Supervises the playground activities of children during meal and break times
- Cares for sick children and administers first aid if necessary
- Assists young children with feeding, dressing, washing and toiletry activities
- Meets children wanting to cross the road and directs them to wait at the kerb
- Waits for a safe gap in traffic and walks to the centre of road
- Signals approaching traffic to stop by using hand signals and school crossing signs
There are no formal academic entry requirements. Some employers may expect candidates to show previous experience in caring for children. Training is provided Off and on-the-job. A DBS check is mandatory.
Related
Elementary security occupations (median £33,693) · Security guards and related occupations · Exam invigilators · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026