Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers (SOC 33-9092) earn a median $33,580 a year ($16.14 an hour) in the United States, with 157,550 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers do
Lifeguards, ski patrol and other recreational protective service workers monitor recreational areas such as pools, beaches or ski slopes to provide assistance and protection to participants. They patrol or monitor areas such as trails, slopes or swimming areas on foot, in vehicles or from towers, and warn participants of inclement weather, unsafe areas or illegal conduct. They rescue distressed persons using rescue techniques and equipment, contact emergency medical personnel in case of serious injury, and examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation when necessary. At pools they maintain water quality by testing chemical levels. They complete and keep records of weather and beach conditions, emergency medical treatments performed and other incident information, and they instruct participants in skiing, swimming or other recreational activities and give safety information. Education is varied: 39 percent of respondents report less than a high school diploma, 21 percent a high school diploma and 17 percent a postsecondary certificate. Other recorded titles include beach lifeguard, aquatics lifeguard, certified lifeguard, certified ski patroller and aquatics coordinator.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report less than a high school diploma as the typical level of education for this occupation (39 percent).
Also called: Aquatics Coordinator, Aquatics Lifeguard, Aquatics Specialist, Beach Attendant, Beach Lifeguard.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $12.40 | $13.89 | $16.14 | $18.04 | $21.14 | $16.57 | 157,550 |
| Annual | $25,780 | $28,880 | $33,580 | $37,520 | $43,970 | $34,470 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $17.50 | $25.60 | $29.04 | $33.70 | $35.61 | $28.11 | 290 | 0.41 | 0.41 |
| Annual | $36,400 | $53,240 | $60,400 | $70,100 | $74,080 | $58,460 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $16.21 | $21.76 | $25.30 | $31.13 | $38.38 | $26.51 | 720 | 1.15 | 1.13 |
| Annual | $33,720 | $45,260 | $52,630 | $64,740 | $79,840 | $55,150 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $16.64 | $17.94 | $20.54 | $21.62 | $28.23 | $21.34 | 22,620 | 1.24 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $34,620 | $37,320 | $42,720 | $44,960 | $58,710 | $44,380 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $16.66 | $16.97 | $18.16 | $21.42 | $22.09 | $19.20 | 4,720 | 1.33 | 1.31 |
| Annual | $34,650 | $35,310 | $37,770 | $44,550 | $45,940 | $39,940 | ||||
| Montana | Hourly | $12.89 | $14.47 | $18.15 | $21.45 | $28.27 | $19.19 | 270 | 0.52 | 0.51 |
| Annual | $26,820 | $30,100 | $37,750 | $44,610 | $58,790 | $39,910 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $16.64 | $17.94 | $20.54 | $21.62 | $28.23 | $21.34 | 22,620 | 1.24 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $34,620 | $37,320 | $42,720 | $44,960 | $58,710 | $44,380 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $10.86 | $12.70 | $14.16 | $15.95 | $20.07 | $14.60 | 11,320 | 0.80 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $22,580 | $26,420 | $29,450 | $33,180 | $41,740 | $30,380 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $13.71 | $14.67 | $16.85 | $18.17 | $21.63 | $17.07 | 9,460 | 0.95 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $28,510 | $30,510 | $35,040 | $37,790 | $45,000 | $35,510 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $12.88 | $13.62 | $14.46 | $16.51 | $18.01 | $15.24 | 8,920 | 2.17 | 2.14 |
| Annual | $26,790 | $28,320 | $30,070 | $34,340 | $37,450 | $31,700 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $15.50 | $16.40 | $17.59 | $19.18 | $21.73 | $18.17 | 8,740 | 0.90 | 0.89 |
| Annual | $32,240 | $34,110 | $36,590 | $39,900 | $45,190 | $37,800 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | Hourly | $22.81 | $24.12 | $30.79 | $30.79 | $39.03 | $29.20 | 110 | 1.52 | 1.50 |
| Annual | $47,450 | $50,180 | $64,030 | $64,030 | $81,180 | $60,740 | ||||
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Hourly | $14.42 | $17.13 | $23.91 | $29.64 | $38.38 | $24.78 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $30,000 | $35,630 | $49,730 | $61,660 | $79,840 | $51,540 | ||||
| Bozeman, MT | Hourly | $19.55 | $21.43 | $21.45 | $28.27 | $33.34 | $24.46 | 100 | 1.44 | 1.42 |
| Annual | $40,660 | $44,570 | $44,610 | $58,790 | $69,340 | $50,890 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.08 | $18.49 | $21.06 | $22.12 | $29.57 | $22.49 | 11,640 | 1.86 | 1.83 |
| Annual | $35,530 | $38,470 | $43,800 | $46,020 | $61,510 | $46,780 | ||||
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | Hourly | $13.66 | $15.83 | $20.80 | $20.80 | $20.80 | $18.57 | 1,800 | 1.39 | 1.37 |
| Annual | $28,410 | $32,920 | $43,260 | $43,260 | $43,260 | $38,620 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.08 | $18.49 | $21.06 | $22.12 | $29.57 | $22.49 | 11,640 | 1.86 | 1.83 |
| Annual | $35,530 | $38,470 | $43,800 | $46,020 | $61,510 | $46,780 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $15.50 | $16.49 | $17.60 | $19.52 | $21.89 | $18.36 | 9,610 | 1.01 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $32,240 | $34,310 | $36,600 | $40,590 | $45,530 | $38,200 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $15.00 | $15.06 | $16.23 | $17.04 | $18.17 | $16.51 | 4,960 | 1.10 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $31,200 | $31,320 | $33,750 | $35,440 | $37,780 | $34,330 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $14.00 | $15.09 | $16.69 | $17.87 | $21.16 | $17.49 | 4,600 | 1.47 | 1.45 |
| Annual | $29,120 | $31,380 | $34,710 | $37,160 | $44,000 | $36,370 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $12.25 | $13.28 | $14.31 | $15.89 | $16.85 | $14.39 | 3,930 | 0.97 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $25,470 | $27,610 | $29,770 | $33,040 | $35,040 | $29,920 | ||||
Top industries employing lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) employ 34.3% of lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers nationally (54,100 jobs) at a median $34,470 a year ($16.57 an hour), followed by Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (26.6%) and Civic and Social Organizations (11.9%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 54,100 | 34.3% | $34,470 | $16.57 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries NAICS 713900 | 41,950 | 26.6% | $31,540 | $15.16 |
| Civic and Social Organizations NAICS 813400 | 18,740 | 11.9% | $31,000 | $14.91 |
| Amusement Parks and Arcades NAICS 713100 | 13,890 | 8.8% | $35,040 | $16.85 |
| Traveler Accommodation NAICS 721100 | 6,120 | 3.9% | $35,460 | $17.05 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (157,550). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $25,630 for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers in May 2021 and $33,580 in May 2025, with employment of 114,320 and 157,550.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $25,630 | $12.32 | 114,320 |
| May 2022 | $27,270 | $13.11 | 107,930 |
| May 2023 | $30,380 | $14.60 | 123,560 |
| May 2024 | $33,720 | $16.21 | 143,590 |
| May 2025 | $33,580 | $16.14 | 157,550 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $29.04 | $60,400 | $36,400 | $74,080 | 290 | 0.41 | 0.41 |
| 2 | Hawaii profile | $25.30 | $52,630 | $33,720 | $79,840 | 720 | 1.15 | 1.13 |
| 3 | California profile | $20.54 | $42,720 | $34,620 | $58,710 | 22,620 | 1.24 | 1.23 |
| 4 | Washington profile | $18.16 | $37,770 | $34,650 | $45,940 | 4,720 | 1.33 | 1.31 |
| 5 | Montana profile | $18.15 | $37,750 | $26,820 | $58,790 | 270 | 0.52 | 0.51 |
| 6 | Massachusetts profile | $17.62 | $36,650 | $32,830 | $42,290 | 2,640 | 0.73 | 0.72 |
| 7 | New York profile | $17.59 | $36,590 | $32,240 | $45,190 | 8,740 | 0.90 | 0.89 |
| 8 | Vermont profile | $17.32 | $36,030 | $30,150 | $42,140 | 310 | 1.01 | 1.00 |
| 9 | Connecticut profile | $17.29 | $35,960 | $34,010 | $39,740 | 1,510 | 0.89 | 0.88 |
| 10 | Rhode Island profile | $17.20 | $35,770 | $31,200 | $41,490 | 370 | 0.73 | 0.72 |
| 11 | Colorado profile | $17.13 | $35,640 | $31,870 | $43,280 | 5,430 | 1.89 | 1.86 |
| 12 | Arizona profile | $17.01 | $35,380 | $30,580 | $40,150 | 3,950 | 1.22 | 1.20 |
| 13 | Florida profile | $16.85 | $35,040 | $28,510 | $45,000 | 9,460 | 0.95 | 0.94 |
| 14 | Oregon profile | $16.84 | $35,030 | $30,560 | $42,530 | 1,860 | 0.94 | 0.93 |
| 15 | New Jersey profile | $16.71 | $34,760 | $32,220 | $42,860 | 5,460 | 1.27 | 1.26 |
| 16 | Alaska profile | $16.61 | $34,540 | $24,770 | $45,040 | 340 | 1.04 | 1.03 |
| 17 | Maryland profile | $16.60 | $34,520 | $31,200 | $40,550 | 4,160 | 1.51 | 1.49 |
| 18 | Maine profile | $16.50 | $34,320 | $31,080 | $45,460 | 340 | 0.53 | 0.53 |
| 19 | Illinois profile | $16.21 | $33,710 | $31,200 | $37,050 | 5,880 | 0.97 | 0.95 |
| 20 | New Hampshire profile | $15.43 | $32,100 | $27,970 | $45,770 | 280 | 0.41 | 0.41 |
| 21 | Delaware profile | $15.35 | $31,930 | $31,200 | $33,700 | 360 | 0.74 | 0.73 |
| 22 | Minnesota profile | $15.32 | $31,870 | $25,950 | $38,120 | 2,130 | 0.72 | 0.71 |
| 23 | South Dakota profile | $14.90 | $30,990 | $26,760 | $35,610 | 490 | 1.06 | 1.05 |
| 24 | Georgia profile | $14.85 | $30,880 | $24,420 | $38,480 | 2,840 | 0.58 | 0.57 |
| 25 | Nevada profile | $14.82 | $30,830 | $27,750 | $34,640 | 2,630 | 1.70 | 1.68 |
| 26 | Virginia profile | $14.46 | $30,070 | $26,790 | $37,450 | 8,920 | 2.17 | 2.14 |
| 27 | Michigan profile | $14.31 | $29,760 | $25,960 | $47,630 | 3,770 | 0.86 | 0.84 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania profile | $14.17 | $29,480 | $22,650 | $35,900 | 5,450 | 0.90 | 0.89 |
| 29 | Texas profile | $14.16 | $29,450 | $22,580 | $41,740 | 11,320 | 0.80 | 0.79 |
| 30 | Missouri profile | $14.07 | $29,260 | $28,600 | $33,960 | 3,100 | 1.06 | 1.04 |
| 31 | Nebraska profile | $13.99 | $29,100 | $28,080 | $34,820 | 1,250 | 1.22 | 1.20 |
| 32 | Wyoming profile | $13.96 | $29,030 | $19,820 | $46,830 | 500 | 1.80 | 1.77 |
| 33 | Idaho profile | $13.83 | $28,770 | $23,200 | $33,540 | 750 | 0.87 | 0.86 |
| 34 | Utah profile | $13.81 | $28,720 | $21,280 | $46,210 | 2,550 | 1.47 | 1.45 |
| 35 | Indiana profile | $13.77 | $28,640 | $22,690 | $33,280 | 3,290 | 1.03 | 1.01 |
| 36 | New Mexico profile | $13.75 | $28,590 | $27,260 | $37,960 | 760 | 0.87 | 0.86 |
| 37 | Wisconsin profile | $13.74 | $28,570 | $22,920 | $35,710 | 3,350 | 1.14 | 1.12 |
| 38 | Kentucky profile | $13.71 | $28,520 | $20,280 | $33,250 | 1,820 | 0.91 | 0.90 |
| 39 | North Dakota profile | $13.67 | $28,430 | $22,880 | $33,930 | 580 | 1.35 | 1.33 |
| 40 | Tennessee profile | $13.56 | $28,200 | $22,080 | $34,330 | 2,330 | 0.71 | 0.70 |
| 41 | Alabama profile | $13.52 | $28,130 | $20,560 | $33,770 | 1,080 | 0.51 | 0.51 |
| 42 | Ohio profile | $13.35 | $27,770 | $22,810 | $36,200 | 6,450 | 1.16 | 1.15 |
| 43 | North Carolina profile | $13.13 | $27,310 | $21,830 | $36,390 | 4,850 | 0.98 | 0.97 |
| 44 | Kansas profile | $13.09 | $27,220 | $21,100 | $32,720 | 1,750 | 1.22 | 1.20 |
| 45 | Arkansas profile | $12.98 | $27,000 | $23,310 | $34,050 | 530 | 0.40 | 0.40 |
| 46 | South Carolina profile | $12.60 | $26,210 | $20,470 | $35,430 | 1,900 | 0.83 | 0.81 |
| 47 | Iowa profile | $12.24 | $25,460 | $20,560 | $31,460 | 1,410 | 0.90 | 0.89 |
| 48 | Oklahoma profile | $12.14 | $25,250 | $20,830 | $35,410 | 650 | 0.38 | 0.38 |
| 49 | West Virginia profile | $11.86 | $24,670 | $20,570 | $30,160 | 450 | 0.64 | 0.63 |
| 50 | Mississippi profile | $11.75 | $24,440 | $21,110 | $31,200 | 330 | 0.28 | 0.28 |
| 51 | Louisiana profile | $10.69 | $22,240 | $20,480 | $30,990 | 660 | 0.34 | 0.33 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (33-9090), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Protective Service Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 33-9092 Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 33-9092, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 33-9092.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.