More than a job: UCPS career fair offers pathways to serve students and community

Every school day begins with people most students never see.

The bus driver arriving before sunrise. The technician keeping classrooms cool. The cafeteria worker preparing breakfast. The afterschool leader welcoming students when the final bell rings.

Behind every successful school day at Union County Public Schools is a team of dedicated professionals whose work keeps schools moving—from the first bus stop in the morning to the final pickup in the afternoon.

Now, the district is inviting others to join that team.

UCPS will host its Non-instructional Career Fair on Thursday, May 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the UCPS Transportation Center, 3319 Goldmine Road in Monroe, where candidates can explore careers that help power schools across Union County each day.

Open positions include bus drivers, school nutrition staff, HVAC technicians, electricians and afterschool program staff—essential roles that help ensure nearly 40,000 students arrive safely, learn in comfortable environments and have the resources they need to thrive.

Several of those positions offer competitive starting pay, including $20 per hour for licensed bus drivers, paid training at $16.07 per hour for bus driver trainees, and Mechanic II positions starting at $19.73 per hour, with a $2,500 supplement available upon certification.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet hiring managers, ask questions about available positions and receive help with the application process on-site.

For those seeking meaningful work with strong benefits, full-time UCPS employees receive health, dental and life insurance, access to employee well-being resources through the Employee Assistance Program, and exclusive discounts on travel, shopping and entertainment through Working Advantage.

But beyond the benefits is something equally valuable: purpose.

Whether it’s serving breakfast, repairing a school building, driving a morning route or creating safe, enriching spaces for students after school, non-instructional employees shape the daily experience of thousands of children.

At UCPS, that work happens behind the scenes—but its impact is seen everywhere.

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