Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $25,780 | $12.40 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $33,580 | $16.14 |
| Mean (average) | $34,470 | $16.57 |
| 90th percentile | $43,970 | $21.14 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $28,130 | $20,560 | $33,770 | 1,080 | 0.51 |
| Alaska | $34,540 | $24,770 | $45,040 | 340 | 1.03 |
| Arizona | $35,380 | $30,580 | $40,150 | 3,950 | 1.2 |
| Arkansas | $27,000 | $23,310 | $34,050 | 530 | 0.4 |
| California | $42,720 | $34,620 | $58,710 | 22,620 | 1.23 |
| Colorado | $35,640 | $31,870 | $43,280 | 5,430 | 1.86 |
| Connecticut | $35,960 | $34,010 | $39,740 | 1,510 | 0.88 |
| Delaware | $31,930 | $31,200 | $33,700 | 360 | 0.73 |
| District of Columbia | $60,400 | $36,400 | $74,080 | 290 | 0.41 |
| Florida | $35,040 | $28,510 | $45,000 | 9,460 | 0.94 |
| Georgia | $30,880 | $24,420 | $38,480 | 2,840 | 0.57 |
| Hawaii | $52,630 | $33,720 | $79,840 | 720 | 1.13 |
| Idaho | $28,770 | $23,200 | $33,540 | 750 | 0.86 |
| Illinois | $33,710 | $31,200 | $37,050 | 5,880 | 0.95 |
| Indiana | $28,640 | $22,690 | $33,280 | 3,290 | 1.01 |
| Iowa | $25,460 | $20,560 | $31,460 | 1,410 | 0.89 |
| Kansas | $27,220 | $21,100 | $32,720 | 1,750 | 1.2 |
| Kentucky | $28,520 | $20,280 | $33,250 | 1,820 | 0.9 |
| Louisiana | $22,240 | $20,480 | $30,990 | 660 | 0.33 |
| Maine | $34,320 | $31,080 | $45,460 | 340 | 0.53 |
| Maryland | $34,520 | $31,200 | $40,550 | 4,160 | 1.49 |
| Massachusetts | $36,650 | $32,830 | $42,290 | 2,640 | 0.72 |
| Michigan | $29,760 | $25,960 | $47,630 | 3,770 | 0.84 |
| Minnesota | $31,870 | $25,950 | $38,120 | 2,130 | 0.71 |
| Mississippi | $24,440 | $21,110 | $31,200 | 330 | 0.28 |
| Missouri | $29,260 | $28,600 | $33,960 | 3,100 | 1.04 |
| Montana | $37,750 | $26,820 | $58,790 | 270 | 0.51 |
| Nebraska | $29,100 | $28,080 | $34,820 | 1,250 | 1.2 |
| Nevada | $30,830 | $27,750 | $34,640 | 2,630 | 1.68 |
| New Hampshire | $32,100 | $27,970 | $45,770 | 280 | 0.41 |
| New Jersey | $34,760 | $32,220 | $42,860 | 5,460 | 1.26 |
| New Mexico | $28,590 | $27,260 | $37,960 | 760 | 0.86 |
| New York | $36,590 | $32,240 | $45,190 | 8,740 | 0.89 |
| North Carolina | $27,310 | $21,830 | $36,390 | 4,850 | 0.97 |
| North Dakota | $28,430 | $22,880 | $33,930 | 580 | 1.33 |
| Ohio | $27,770 | $22,810 | $36,200 | 6,450 | 1.15 |
| Oklahoma | $25,250 | $20,830 | $35,410 | 650 | 0.38 |
| Oregon | $35,030 | $30,560 | $42,530 | 1,860 | 0.93 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,480 | $22,650 | $35,900 | 5,450 | 0.89 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,840 | $21,840 | $29,470 | 140 | 0.15 |
| Rhode Island | $35,770 | $31,200 | $41,490 | 370 | 0.72 |
| South Carolina | $26,210 | $20,470 | $35,430 | 1,900 | 0.81 |
| South Dakota | $30,990 | $26,760 | $35,610 | 490 | 1.05 |
| Tennessee | $28,200 | $22,080 | $34,330 | 2,330 | 0.7 |
| Texas | $29,450 | $22,580 | $41,740 | 11,320 | 0.79 |
| Utah | $28,720 | $21,280 | $46,210 | 2,550 | 1.45 |
| Vermont | $36,030 | $30,150 | $42,140 | 310 | 1 |
| Virginia | $30,070 | $26,790 | $37,450 | 8,920 | 2.14 |
| Washington | $37,770 | $34,650 | $45,940 | 4,720 | 1.31 |
| West Virginia | $24,670 | $20,570 | $30,160 | 450 | 0.63 |
| Wisconsin | $28,570 | $22,920 | $35,710 | 3,350 | 1.12 |
| Wyoming | $29,030 | $19,820 | $46,830 | 500 | 1.77 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 45,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Patrol or monitor recreational areas, such as trails, slopes, or swimming areas, on foot, in vehicles, or from towers.
- Rescue distressed persons, using rescue techniques and equipment.
- Contact emergency medical personnel in case of serious injury.
- Examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.
- Warn recreational participants of inclement weather, unsafe areas, or illegal conduct.
- Maintain quality of pool water by testing chemical levels.
- Complete and maintain records of weather and beach conditions, emergency medical treatments performed, and other relevant incident information.
- Instruct participants in skiing, swimming, or other recreational activities and provide safety precaution information.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- GroupMe
- Microsoft Publisher
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Instructing.
Common job titles: Beach Attendant, Beach Lifeguard, Lifeguard, Marine Safety Officer, Ocean Lifeguard, Ocean Lifeguard Specialist, Pool Attendant, Pool Lifeguard, Ski Patrol Paramedic, Ski Patroller.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers make?
The national median annual wage for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers was $33,580 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $25,780 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $43,970. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers to change +5.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 45,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($60,400), Hawaii ($52,630), California ($42,720). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.