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School Bus Monitors Salary in North Carolina: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a School Bus Monitors salary really buy you in North Carolina?

North Carolina is 5.8% cheaper than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$32,970
Median annual (2025)
+6.2%
Real Purchasing Power
$35,000
COL-adjusted (RPP=94.2)

North Carolina Cost of Living Index

North Carolina's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 94.2, meaning prices are 5.8% lower the national average. A School Bus Monitors earning $32,970 in North Carolina has the equivalent purchasing power of $35,000 in an average-cost US state.

NC: 94.2
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for North Carolina's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $27,650 $29,352 +$1,702
25th Percentile (P25) $31,460 $33,397 +$1,937
Median (P50) $32,970 $35,000 +$2,030
75th Percentile (P75) $35,180 $37,346 +$2,166
90th Percentile (P90) $39,080 $41,486 +$2,406
Key Insight

A School Bus Monitors in North Carolina earns $32,970 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 6% further — like earning $35,000 in an average-cost state. This makes North Carolina one of the best value states for this occupation.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

North Carolina Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 94.2

With an RPP of 94.2, North Carolina is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for School Bus Monitors is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Meaningful Purchasing-Power Shift

+6.2%

After applying North Carolina's RPP, the $32,970 median salary translates to $35,000 in real terms — a 6.2% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a School Bus Monitors.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#24 / 50

North Carolina sits at #24 of 50 states for School Bus Monitors COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for School Bus Monitors (After Cost of Living)

Where does School Bus Monitors salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$43,382
RPP 88.7
2. Utah
$40,232
RPP 94.5
3. Wyoming
$40,054
RPP 91.9
$39,835
RPP 91.0
$39,696
RPP 92.3
$39,498
RPP 97.7
$39,068
RPP 88.0
$38,697
RPP 89.8
9. Vermont
$38,595
RPP 101.1
$38,551
RPP 109.8

North Carolina ranks #24 out of 50 states for School Bus Monitors after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See School Bus Monitors take-home pay in North Carolina after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a School Bus Monitors in North Carolina after cost of living?

A School Bus Monitors in North Carolina earns a median salary of $32,970 per year. After adjusting for North Carolina's cost of living (RPP=94.2), the real purchasing power is $35,000 — a +6.2% difference.

Is North Carolina expensive to live in?

North Carolina's cost of living is 5.8% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for North Carolina is 94.2 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a School Bus Monitors in North Carolina: $32,970 x (100 / 94.2) = $35,000. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a School Bus Monitors in North Carolina financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A School Bus Monitors in North Carolina enjoys 6.2% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.

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