Crossing Guards and Flaggers
Machines can already do 23% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 53%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Crossing Guards and Flaggers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 23% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2034, and 53% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 94,360 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $38,100 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 77% for contact with people.
- Also called: Adult Crossing Guard, Community Service Officer, Crossing Guard, Road Crossing Guard.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as street and railroad crossings and construction sites | 24% | 18% to 51% | |
| Direct traffic movement or warn of hazards, using signs, flags, lanterns, and hand signals | 24% | 18% to 51% | |
| Direct or escort pedestrians across streets, stopping traffic, as necessary | 16% | 18% to 51% | |
| Monitor traffic flow to locate safe gaps through which pedestrians can cross streets | 13% | 36% to 68% | |
| Distribute traffic control signs and markers at designated points | 5% | 18% to 51% | |
| Communicate traffic and crossing rules and other information to students and adults | 4% | 36% to 57% | |
| Discuss traffic routing plans and control-point locations with superiors | 4% | 27% to 46% | |
| Inform drivers of detour routes through construction sites | 4% | 32% to 50% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills crossing guards and flaggers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- School Bus Monitors49% of tasks by 2035 · US median $35,100
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers52% of tasks by 2035 · US median $33,580
- Passenger Attendants52% of tasks by 2035 · US median $37,720
- Transportation Security Screeners49% of tasks by 2035 · US median $66,770
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Crossing Guards and Flaggers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2034. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of crossing guards and flaggers?
Machines can do 23% of the tasks of crossing guards and flaggers today and 53% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 33-9091.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Crossing Guards and Flaggers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/crossing-guards-and-flaggers/