School Crossing Patrol Officers -- universally known as "lollipop people" for their circular STOP sign on a pole -- help children and parents cross the road safely near schools during term time. Most work a single crossing for around 10 hours a week, paid at or near the National Living Wage, which produces gross earnings low enough that no Income Tax or National Insurance is due. This guide sets out realistic UK pay from a single crossing through to a full-time Patrol Service Coordinator role, and shows how take-home pay changes as hours and responsibility increase, using verified 2026/27 rates.
Indicative UK ranges based on the National Living Wage (GBP 12.71/hr from April 2026) and a 39-week school year for patrol roles. Actual rates vary slightly by local authority.
| Level | Stage | Typical pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single crossing, term-time (~10 hrs/wk) | Standard patrol | GBP 4,900--GBP 5,000/yr | 39 weeks a year at National Living Wage GBP 12.71/hr; below the Personal Allowance |
| Two crossings / split shift (~15 hrs/wk) | Busier or combined patrol | GBP 7,300--GBP 7,500/yr | Still below the Personal Allowance in most cases |
| Extended patrol + holiday cover (~20 hrs/wk) | Larger crossing or combined role | GBP 9,800--GBP 10,000/yr | Approaching but typically still under the Personal Allowance |
| Patrol supervisor / area coordinator (part-time) | Coordinating several crossings | GBP 14,000--GBP 16,000/yr | First level at which modest Income Tax and NI usually apply |
| Patrol Service Coordinator (full-time) | Managing the whole authority service | GBP 22,000--GBP 26,000/yr | Full-time role: rota management, recruitment, site risk assessments |
2026/27 England rates. Personal Allowance GBP 12,570. All scenarios use Class 1 employee National Insurance (8% to the Upper Earnings Limit, 2% above). No pension salary sacrifice or student loan repayment is applied. Actual take-home will differ based on tax code and any other employment income.
| Scenario | Gross | Income tax | NI | Net/year | Net/month | Keep % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single crossing (10 hrs/wk term-time) | GBP 4,957 | GBP 0 | GBP 0 | GBP 4,957 | GBP 413/mo | 100% |
| Two crossings (15 hrs/wk term-time) | GBP 7,435 | GBP 0 | GBP 0 | GBP 7,435 | GBP 620/mo | 100% |
| Patrol supervisor (part-time) | GBP 15,000 | GBP 486 | GBP 194 | GBP 14,320 | GBP 1,193/mo | 95% |
| Patrol Service Coordinator (full-time) | GBP 24,000 | GBP 2,286 | GBP 914 | GBP 20,800 | GBP 1,733/mo | 87% |
For your exact figure including any second job or other income, use the take-home pay calculator.
A single school crossing worked around 10 hours a week during term time (roughly 39 weeks a year) produces gross earnings of approximately GBP 4,957 at the National Living Wage of GBP 12.71/hr -- comfortably under the GBP 12,570 Personal Allowance, so the full amount is take-home pay with no Income Tax or National Insurance deducted. Even an officer covering two crossings, earning around GBP 7,435 a year, stays under the threshold and keeps 100% of their gross pay.
Tax and NI only start to apply once total earnings (from crossing patrol work, any second job, or a full-time coordinator role) exceed the Personal Allowance. A part-time patrol supervisor earning GBP 15,000 a year pays approximately GBP 486 in Income Tax and GBP 194 in Class 1 employee National Insurance, leaving GBP 14,320 take-home (GBP 1,193/mo).
Larger local authorities employ a full-time Patrol Service Coordinator or supervisor to manage recruitment, rotas, site risk assessments and holiday cover across the whole crossing patrol service. A coordinator earning GBP 24,000 gross in 2026/27 pays approximately GBP 2,286 in Income Tax and GBP 914 in Class 1 employee National Insurance, leaving net take-home of approximately GBP 20,800 per year (GBP 1,733/mo) -- a standard full-time PAYE calculation, unlike the part-time patrol roles below the Personal Allowance.
Coordinators are also more likely to meet the auto-enrolment pension threshold (earning above GBP 10,000 a year and aged 22 or over), giving access to a workplace pension that many part-time single-crossing patrol officers do not automatically receive.
