What is a hall monitor? Unlike a teacher's aide, who provides assistance within the classroom, a hall monitor works in other areas of the school, helping to ensure the safety of students, staff and visitors.

Job Description

School districts employ hall monitors to supervise students and their activities outside the classroom. This include not only hallways, but cafeterias, locker rooms, school grounds, playgrounds and street crossings. Hall monitors help maintain order and report or remove students whose behavior is unsafe or disruptive. They may take attendance and locate students who are on campus but not in their assigned classrooms. Hall monitors issue passes to students who are tardy for class. They may guide students across streets and intersections. They often control traffic when school buses are arriving and departing. Hall monitors greet visitors, answer general questions and give directions. They may ask visitors for identification and maintain a log book for security purposes. Hall monitors may use a two-way radio for communication.

Education Requirements

There are no formal education requirements to be a hall monitor, although preference may be given to candidates with a high school diploma or college credits. The job of hall monitor requires a number of "soft skills." Unlike hard skills, which are easily measured (such as a typing speed in words per minute), soft skills are difficult to quantify and document. Examples of soft skills are written and verbal communication, decision-making and the ability to remain calm under stressful conditions.

If you've worked in the food industry, in retail or in another position that has put you in contact with the public, you know how important these skills are. As a hall monitor, you'll be working with children and adults. You need to be friendly but firm. You want to make people feel welcome, but it's also necessary that they understand and follow the rules set for the school property.

Work Environment

Hall monitors work in and around school grounds, so your work may take you outside no matter the weather. It is not up to the hall monitor to determine or administer any necessary disciplinary action, only to make a record of it and report it to the proper authority. The hall monitor usually reports directly to the principal or assistant principal. Typically, hall monitors arrive at school before students and remain throughout the day until students have left the building. The position may be for the nine months of the regular school year, or be extended year-round depending on the needs of the school and the school district.

Approximately 64 percent of school monitors are male. Those surveyed reported a high level of job satisfaction.

Salary and Job Outlook

The median salary for a school monitor is $17 per hour, or $41,628 per year. Median salary means half in the occupation earn more and half earn less. Geographic location, years of experience and additional skills can affect the rate of pay.

Most people remain in the job of school monitor from one to four years. Job openings will depend on the the needs of the school district and the availability of other employment options in the area.