33 Series · SOC 33-9092
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $33,580
- Median / year
- $43,970
- Top 10% earn
- +5.8%
- Growth '23–'33
- 157,550
- US workers
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers earn a median of $33,580 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $33,580, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $25,780 (10th percentile) to $43,970 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 157,550 US workers. District of Columbia pays the most ($60,400), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers earn a median of $33,580, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 1% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Protective Service, it ranks #24 of 24 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 5.8% by 2033.
- $33,580
- Median annual wage
- Top 99%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #24 of 24
- in Protective Service
- 1.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: District of Columbia at $60,400. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers (SOC 33-9092) pays a national median of $33,580 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $25,780 at the 10th percentile to $43,970 at the 90th, with a mean of $34,470 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 157,550 Americans work in this occupation across 52 reporting states and 368 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +5.8% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 42,700 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 7.3 per 100,000 and injury rate of 2.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. District of Columbia pays the highest state median at $60,400, which is +80% above the national figure. The top metro is Kahului-Wailuku, HI at $64,030 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 157,550 jobs Median $33,580/yr
Median Salary
$33,580
per year
Median Hourly
$16.14/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$34,470
average
Employment
157,550
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$33,580 Bottom 1% higher than 1% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 33-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 33-series occupations with growth data, Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers sits on the faster-growing side at +5.8% growth and $33,580 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+5.8%
About average
Annual Openings
42,700
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → B
Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
7.3/100K
Injury Rate
2.5/100
Danger Index
13.7/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Monitoring 3.8
Speaking 3.5
Social Perceptiveness 3.4
Service Orientation 3.3
Active Listening 3.1
Learning Strategies 3.1
Critical Thinking 3.0
Coordination 3.0
Complex Problem Solving 3.0
Judgment and Decision Making 3.0
Knowledge Areas
Customer and Personal Service 4.0
Public Safety and Security 3.6
English Language 3.5
Education and Training 3.1
Medicine and Dentistry 3.0
Psychology 3.0
Administration and Management 2.7
Chemistry 2.5
Therapy and Counseling 2.4
Foreign Language 2.4
Key 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.
- ▸ Observe activities in assigned areas, using binoculars, to detect hazards, disturbances, or safety infractions.
- ▸ Operate underwater recovery units.
- ▸ Instruct participants in skiing, swimming, or other recreational activities and provide safety precaution information.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$25,780
25th Percentile
$28,880
Median
$33,580
75th Percentile
$37,520
90th Percentile
$43,970
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 52 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $60,400 | +80% above national |
| 2 | Hawaii | $52,630 | +57% above national |
| 3 | California | $42,720 | +27% above national |
| 4 | Washington | $37,770 | +12% above national |
| 5 | Montana | $37,750 | +12% above national |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $36,650 | +9% above national |
| 7 | New York | $36,590 | +9% above national |
| 8 | Vermont | $36,030 | +7% above national |
| 9 | Connecticut | $35,960 | +7% above national |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $35,770 | +7% above national |
| 11 | Colorado | $35,640 | +6% above national |
| 12 | Arizona | $35,380 | +5% above national |
| 13 | Florida | $35,040 | +4% above national |
| 14 | Oregon | $35,030 | +4% above national |
| 15 | New Jersey | $34,760 | +4% above national |
| 16 | Alaska | $34,540 | +3% above national |
| 17 | Maryland | $34,520 | +3% above national |
| 18 | Maine | $34,320 | +2% above national |
| 19 | Illinois | $33,710 | same as national |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $32,100 | 4% below national |
| 21 | Delaware | $31,930 | 5% below national |
| 22 | Minnesota | $31,870 | 5% below national |
| 23 | South Dakota | $30,990 | 8% below national |
| 24 | Georgia | $30,880 | 8% below national |
| 25 | Nevada | $30,830 | 8% below national |
| 26 | Virginia | $30,070 | 10% below national |
| 27 | Michigan | $29,760 | 11% below national |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $29,480 | 12% below national |
| 29 | Texas | $29,450 | 12% below national |
| 30 | Missouri | $29,260 | 13% below national |
| 31 | Nebraska | $29,100 | 13% below national |
| 32 | Wyoming | $29,030 | 14% below national |
| 33 | Idaho | $28,770 | 14% below national |
| 34 | Utah | $28,720 | 14% below national |
| 35 | Indiana | $28,640 | 15% below national |
| 36 | New Mexico | $28,590 | 15% below national |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $28,570 | 15% below national |
| 38 | Kentucky | $28,520 | 15% below national |
| 39 | North Dakota | $28,430 | 15% below national |
| 40 | Tennessee | $28,200 | 16% below national |
| 41 | Alabama | $28,130 | 16% below national |
| 42 | Ohio | $27,770 | 17% below national |
| 43 | North Carolina | $27,310 | 19% below national |
| 44 | Kansas | $27,220 | 19% below national |
| 45 | Arkansas | $27,000 | 20% below national |
| 46 | South Carolina | $26,210 | 22% below national |
| 47 | Iowa | $25,460 | 24% below national |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $25,250 | 25% below national |
| 49 | West Virginia | $24,670 | 27% below national |
| 50 | Mississippi | $24,440 | 27% below national |
| 51 | Louisiana | $22,240 | 34% below national |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $21,840 | 35% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 368 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $64,030 | +91% above national |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $49,730 | +48% above national |
| 3 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $48,150 | +43% above national |
| 4 | Bozeman, MT | $44,610 | +33% above national |
| 5 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $44,100 | +31% above national |
| 6 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $43,800 | +30% above national |
| 7 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $43,260 | +29% above national |
| 8 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $43,100 | +28% above national |
| 9 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $43,050 | +28% above national |
| 10 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $42,460 | +26% above national |
| 11 | Ann Arbor, MI | $42,330 | +26% above national |
| 12 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $42,140 | +25% above national |
| 13 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $41,310 | +23% above national |
| 14 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $39,970 | +19% above national |
| 15 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $39,580 | +18% above national |
| 16 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $39,580 | +18% above national |
| 17 | Traverse City, MI | $39,270 | +17% above national |
| 18 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $39,240 | +17% above national |
| 19 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $39,160 | +17% above national |
| 20 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $39,120 | +16% above national |
| 21 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $38,900 | +16% above national |
| 22 | Medford, OR | $38,790 | +16% above national |
| 23 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $38,480 | +15% above national |
| 24 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $38,130 | +14% above national |
| 25 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $38,070 | +13% above national |
| 26 | Bend, OR | $37,930 | +13% above national |
| 27 | Barnstable Town, MA | $37,710 | +12% above national |
| 28 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $37,650 | +12% above national |
| 29 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $37,500 | +12% above national |
| 30 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $37,320 | +11% above national |
| 31 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $37,230 | +11% above national |
| 32 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $37,180 | +11% above national |
| 33 | Bellingham, WA | $37,110 | +11% above national |
| 34 | Vallejo, CA | $37,010 | +10% above national |
| 35 | Modesto, CA | $36,960 | +10% above national |
| 36 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $36,930 | +10% above national |
| 37 | Flagstaff, AZ | $36,830 | +10% above national |
| 38 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $36,750 | +9% above national |
| 39 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $36,740 | +9% above national |
| 40 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $36,720 | +9% above national |
| 41 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $36,620 | +9% above national |
| 42 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $36,600 | +9% above national |
| 43 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $36,540 | +9% above national |
| 44 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $36,490 | +9% above national |
| 45 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $36,430 | +8% above national |
| 46 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $36,360 | +8% above national |
| 47 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $36,360 | +8% above national |
| 48 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $36,360 | +8% above national |
| 49 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $36,350 | +8% above national |
| 50 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $36,340 | +8% above national |
| 51 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $36,310 | +8% above national |
| 52 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $36,300 | +8% above national |
| 53 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $36,200 | +8% above national |
| 54 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $36,120 | +8% above national |
| 55 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $36,120 | +8% above national |
| 56 | Worcester, MA | $36,010 | +7% above national |
| 57 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $35,990 | +7% above national |
| 58 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $35,990 | +7% above national |
| 59 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $35,960 | +7% above national |
| 60 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $35,870 | +7% above national |
| 61 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $35,860 | +7% above national |
| 62 | Tucson, AZ | $35,860 | +7% above national |
| 63 | Fresno, CA | $35,820 | +7% above national |
| 64 | New Haven, CT | $35,800 | +7% above national |
| 65 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $35,800 | +7% above national |
| 66 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $35,770 | +7% above national |
| 67 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $35,710 | +6% above national |
| 68 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $35,610 | +6% above national |
| 69 | Boulder, CO | $35,500 | +6% above national |
| 70 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $35,460 | +6% above national |
| 71 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $35,400 | +5% above national |
| 72 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $35,360 | +5% above national |
| 73 | Pittsfield, MA | $35,340 | +5% above national |
| 74 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $35,310 | +5% above national |
| 75 | Fayetteville, NC | $35,230 | +5% above national |
| 76 | Rochester, NY | $35,170 | +5% above national |
| 77 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $35,150 | +5% above national |
| 78 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $35,050 | +4% above national |
| 79 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $35,010 | +4% above national |
| 80 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $34,940 | +4% above national |
| 81 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $34,830 | +4% above national |
| 82 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $34,770 | +4% above national |
| 83 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $34,710 | +3% above national |
| 84 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $34,680 | +3% above national |
| 85 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $34,650 | +3% above national |
| 86 | Yakima, WA | $34,650 | +3% above national |
| 87 | Salinas, CA | $34,620 | +3% above national |
| 88 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $34,600 | +3% above national |
| 89 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $34,580 | +3% above national |
| 90 | Ithaca, NY | $34,430 | +3% above national |
| 91 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $34,370 | +2% above national |
| 92 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $34,330 | +2% above national |
| 93 | Chico, CA | $34,320 | +2% above national |
| 94 | El Centro, CA | $34,320 | +2% above national |
| 95 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $34,320 | +2% above national |
| 96 | Ocala, FL | $34,130 | +2% above national |
| 97 | Springfield, MA | $34,110 | +2% above national |
| 98 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $34,090 | +2% above national |
| 99 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $34,080 | +1% above national |
| 100 | Rapid City, SD | $34,010 | +1% above national |
| 101 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $34,010 | +1% above national |
| 102 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $33,920 | +1% above national |
| 103 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $33,850 | +1% above national |
| 104 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $33,820 | +1% above national |
| 105 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $33,750 | +1% above national |
| 106 | Reno, NV | $33,640 | same as national |
| 107 | Salem, OR | $33,570 | same as national |
| 108 | Jacksonville, FL | $33,500 | same as national |
| 109 | Albany, OR | $33,410 | 1% below national |
| 110 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $33,390 | 1% below national |
| 111 | Bloomington, IL | $33,270 | 1% below national |
| 112 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $33,230 | 1% below national |
| 113 | El Paso, TX | $33,180 | 1% below national |
| 114 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $33,170 | 1% below national |
| 115 | Greeley, CO | $33,080 | 1% below national |
| 116 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $33,070 | 2% below national |
| 117 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $32,890 | 2% below national |
| 118 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $32,890 | 2% below national |
| 119 | Syracuse, NY | $32,870 | 2% below national |
| 120 | Bangor, ME | $32,740 | 3% below national |
| 121 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $32,600 | 3% below national |
| 122 | Savannah, GA | $32,400 | 4% below national |
| 123 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $32,390 | 4% below national |
| 124 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $32,380 | 4% below national |
| 125 | Erie, PA | $32,330 | 4% below national |
| 126 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $32,240 | 4% below national |
| 127 | Binghamton, NY | $32,240 | 4% below national |
| 128 | Kingston, NY | $32,240 | 4% below national |
| 129 | Utica-Rome, NY | $32,240 | 4% below national |
| 130 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $32,220 | 4% below national |
| 131 | Colorado Springs, CO | $32,180 | 4% below national |
| 132 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $32,140 | 4% below national |
| 133 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $32,130 | 4% below national |
| 134 | Harrisonburg, VA | $31,980 | 5% below national |
| 135 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $31,860 | 5% below national |
| 136 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $31,840 | 5% below national |
| 137 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $31,820 | 5% below national |
| 138 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $31,720 | 6% below national |
| 139 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $31,700 | 6% below national |
| 140 | Midland, TX | $31,640 | 6% below national |
| 141 | St. Cloud, MN | $31,560 | 6% below national |
| 142 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $31,470 | 6% below national |
| 143 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $31,460 | 6% below national |
| 144 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $31,330 | 7% below national |
| 145 | Springfield, IL | $31,250 | 7% below national |
| 146 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $31,210 | 7% below national |
| 147 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $31,200 | 7% below national |
| 148 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 7% below national |
| 149 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $31,200 | 7% below national |
| 150 | Peoria, IL | $31,200 | 7% below national |
| 151 | Rockford, IL | $31,200 | 7% below national |
| 152 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 7% below national |
| 153 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 7% below national |
| 154 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 7% below national |
| 155 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 7% below national |
| 156 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $31,190 | 7% below national |
| 157 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $31,130 | 7% below national |
| 158 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $31,090 | 7% below national |
| 159 | Kenosha, WI | $30,980 | 8% below national |
| 160 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $30,960 | 8% below national |
| 161 | Ogden, UT | $30,930 | 8% below national |
| 162 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $30,830 | 8% below national |
| 163 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $30,830 | 8% below national |
| 164 | Madison, WI | $30,830 | 8% below national |
| 165 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $30,810 | 8% below national |
| 166 | Grand Junction, CO | $30,800 | 8% below national |
| 167 | Burlington, NC | $30,790 | 8% below national |
| 168 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $30,790 | 8% below national |
| 169 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $30,730 | 8% below national |
| 170 | Iowa City, IA | $30,620 | 9% below national |
| 171 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $30,610 | 9% below national |
| 172 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $30,590 | 9% below national |
| 173 | Yuma, AZ | $30,580 | 9% below national |
| 174 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $30,580 | 9% below national |
| 175 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $30,570 | 9% below national |
| 176 | Green Bay, WI | $30,560 | 9% below national |
| 177 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $30,560 | 9% below national |
| 178 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $30,510 | 9% below national |
| 179 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $30,320 | 10% below national |
| 180 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $30,270 | 10% below national |
| 181 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $30,250 | 10% below national |
| 182 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $30,100 | 10% below national |
| 183 | Lincoln, NE | $30,100 | 10% below national |
| 184 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $30,080 | 10% below national |
| 185 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $30,050 | 11% below national |
| 186 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $29,880 | 11% below national |
| 187 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,870 | 11% below national |
| 188 | Fargo, ND-MN | $29,830 | 11% below national |
| 189 | Charlottesville, VA | $29,800 | 11% below national |
| 190 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $29,770 | 11% below national |
| 191 | York-Hanover, PA | $29,730 | 11% below national |
| 192 | Duluth, MN-WI | $29,710 | 12% below national |
| 193 | Roanoke, VA | $29,580 | 12% below national |
| 194 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $29,550 | 12% below national |
| 195 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $29,540 | 12% below national |
| 196 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $29,500 | 12% below national |
| 197 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $29,440 | 12% below national |
| 198 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $29,440 | 12% below national |
| 199 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $29,340 | 13% below national |
| 200 | Omaha, NE-IA | $29,300 | 13% below national |
| 201 | Sandusky, OH | $29,280 | 13% below national |
| 202 | Columbus, OH | $29,260 | 13% below national |
| 203 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $29,210 | 13% below national |
| 204 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $29,210 | 13% below national |
| 205 | Lawrence, KS | $29,190 | 13% below national |
| 206 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $29,180 | 13% below national |
| 207 | Asheville, NC | $29,120 | 13% below national |
| 208 | Gainesville, GA | $29,120 | 13% below national |
| 209 | Springfield, MO | $29,120 | 13% below national |
| 210 | Longview, TX | $29,110 | 13% below national |
| 211 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $29,100 | 13% below national |
| 212 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $29,090 | 13% below national |
| 213 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $29,060 | 13% below national |
| 214 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $29,050 | 13% below national |
| 215 | Bismarck, ND | $29,030 | 14% below national |
| 216 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $29,030 | 14% below national |
| 217 | Boise City, ID | $29,000 | 14% below national |
| 218 | Greenville, NC | $28,930 | 14% below national |
| 219 | Huntsville, AL | $28,900 | 14% below national |
| 220 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $28,870 | 14% below national |
| 221 | Winchester, VA-WV | $28,840 | 14% below national |
| 222 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $28,810 | 14% below national |
| 223 | Cleveland, OH | $28,800 | 14% below national |
| 224 | Flint, MI | $28,780 | 14% below national |
| 225 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $28,780 | 14% below national |
| 226 | Muncie, IN | $28,750 | 14% below national |
| 227 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $28,740 | 14% below national |
| 228 | Corpus Christi, TX | $28,730 | 14% below national |
| 229 | Fort Wayne, IN | $28,720 | 14% below national |
| 230 | Lynchburg, VA | $28,650 | 15% below national |
| 231 | Columbia, MO | $28,600 | 15% below national |
| 232 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $28,600 | 15% below national |
| 233 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $28,600 | 15% below national |
| 234 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $28,600 | 15% below national |
| 235 | Richmond, VA | $28,590 | 15% below national |
| 236 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $28,560 | 15% below national |
| 237 | Topeka, KS | $28,540 | 15% below national |
| 238 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $28,500 | 15% below national |
| 239 | Appleton, WI | $28,480 | 15% below national |
| 240 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $28,430 | 15% below national |
| 241 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $28,430 | 15% below national |
| 242 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $28,330 | 16% below national |
| 243 | Birmingham, AL | $28,320 | 16% below national |
| 244 | Albuquerque, NM | $28,240 | 16% below national |
| 245 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $28,230 | 16% below national |
| 246 | Niles, MI | $28,170 | 16% below national |
| 247 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $28,090 | 16% below national |
| 248 | Eau Claire, WI | $28,090 | 16% below national |
| 249 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $28,080 | 16% below national |
| 250 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $28,080 | 16% below national |
| 251 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $28,080 | 16% below national |
| 252 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $27,940 | 17% below national |
| 253 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $27,890 | 17% below national |
| 254 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $27,850 | 17% below national |
| 255 | Rochester, MN | $27,810 | 17% below national |
| 256 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $27,790 | 17% below national |
| 257 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $27,780 | 17% below national |
| 258 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $27,700 | 18% below national |
| 259 | Pittsburgh, PA | $27,640 | 18% below national |
| 260 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $27,540 | 18% below national |
| 261 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $27,540 | 18% below national |
| 262 | Lancaster, PA | $27,500 | 18% below national |
| 263 | Akron, OH | $27,420 | 18% below national |
| 264 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $27,390 | 18% below national |
| 265 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $27,380 | 18% below national |
| 266 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $27,380 | 18% below national |
| 267 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $27,280 | 19% below national |
| 268 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $27,260 | 19% below national |
| 269 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $27,200 | 19% below national |
| 270 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $27,130 | 19% below national |
| 271 | Wilmington, NC | $27,070 | 19% below national |
| 272 | Reading, PA | $27,050 | 19% below national |
| 273 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $27,040 | 19% below national |
| 274 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $27,040 | 19% below national |
| 275 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $27,040 | 19% below national |
| 276 | Evansville, IN | $27,020 | 20% below national |
| 277 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $27,000 | 20% below national |
| 278 | Knoxville, TN | $26,920 | 20% below national |
| 279 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $26,920 | 20% below national |
| 280 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $26,860 | 20% below national |
| 281 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $26,850 | 20% below national |
| 282 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $26,840 | 20% below national |
| 283 | Terre Haute, IN | $26,730 | 20% below national |
| 284 | Columbia, SC | $26,720 | 20% below national |
| 285 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $26,700 | 20% below national |
| 286 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $26,690 | 21% below national |
| 287 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $26,680 | 21% below national |
| 288 | Spartanburg, SC | $26,670 | 21% below national |
| 289 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $26,630 | 21% below national |
| 290 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $26,620 | 21% below national |
| 291 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $26,580 | 21% below national |
| 292 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $26,530 | 21% below national |
| 293 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $26,480 | 21% below national |
| 294 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $26,430 | 21% below national |
| 295 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $26,360 | 22% below national |
| 296 | Winston-Salem, NC | $26,300 | 22% below national |
| 297 | Lima, OH | $26,220 | 22% below national |
| 298 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $26,100 | 22% below national |
| 299 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $26,080 | 22% below national |
| 300 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $26,000 | 23% below national |
| 301 | Bay City, MI | $25,960 | 23% below national |
| 302 | Jackson, MI | $25,960 | 23% below national |
| 303 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $25,790 | 23% below national |
| 304 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $25,780 | 23% below national |
| 305 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $25,700 | 23% below national |
| 306 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $25,690 | 23% below national |
| 307 | Wausau, WI | $25,690 | 23% below national |
| 308 | Anchorage, AK | $25,600 | 24% below national |
| 309 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $25,580 | 24% below national |
| 310 | Columbus, GA-AL | $25,540 | 24% below national |
| 311 | Charleston, WV | $25,480 | 24% below national |
| 312 | Cleveland, TN | $25,440 | 24% below national |
| 313 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $25,440 | 24% below national |
| 314 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $25,420 | 24% below national |
| 315 | Chambersburg, PA | $25,410 | 24% below national |
| 316 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $25,390 | 24% below national |
| 317 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $25,320 | 25% below national |
| 318 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $25,250 | 25% below national |
| 319 | Lake Charles, LA | $25,210 | 25% below national |
| 320 | Altoona, PA | $25,170 | 25% below national |
| 321 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $25,170 | 25% below national |
| 322 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $25,080 | 25% below national |
| 323 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $24,960 | 26% below national |
| 324 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $24,960 | 26% below national |
| 325 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $24,890 | 26% below national |
| 326 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $24,890 | 26% below national |
| 327 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $24,880 | 26% below national |
| 328 | Toledo, OH | $24,820 | 26% below national |
| 329 | Springfield, OH | $24,720 | 26% below national |
| 330 | Idaho Falls, ID | $24,670 | 27% below national |
| 331 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $24,670 | 27% below national |
| 332 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $24,670 | 27% below national |
| 333 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $24,500 | 27% below national |
| 334 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $24,480 | 27% below national |
| 335 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $24,320 | 28% below national |
| 336 | St. George, UT | $24,270 | 28% below national |
| 337 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $24,210 | 28% below national |
| 338 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $24,140 | 28% below national |
| 339 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $23,750 | 29% below national |
| 340 | Oklahoma City, OK | $23,730 | 29% below national |
| 341 | Ames, IA | $23,640 | 30% below national |
| 342 | Columbus, IN | $23,640 | 30% below national |
| 343 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $23,630 | 30% below national |
| 344 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $23,630 | 30% below national |
| 345 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $23,450 | 30% below national |
| 346 | Bowling Green, KY | $23,430 | 30% below national |
| 347 | Tulsa, OK | $23,210 | 31% below national |
| 348 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $23,190 | 31% below national |
| 349 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $23,170 | 31% below national |
| 350 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $23,090 | 31% below national |
| 351 | Jackson, MS | $22,970 | 32% below national |
| 352 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $22,950 | 32% below national |
| 353 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $22,880 | 32% below national |
| 354 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $22,880 | 32% below national |
| 355 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $22,810 | 32% below national |
| 356 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $22,620 | 33% below national |
| 357 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $22,430 | 33% below national |
| 358 | Mansfield, OH | $22,260 | 34% below national |
| 359 | Baton Rouge, LA | $22,240 | 34% below national |
| 360 | Amarillo, TX | $22,120 | 34% below national |
| 361 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $22,010 | 34% below national |
| 362 | Montgomery, AL | $21,940 | 35% below national |
| 363 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $21,570 | 36% below national |
| 364 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $21,390 | 36% below national |
| 365 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $21,100 | 37% below national |
| 366 | Lafayette, LA | $21,040 | 37% below national |
| 367 | Morristown, TN | $20,720 | 38% below national |
| 368 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $19,690 | 41% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 33 (protective service) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers make? ▼
The median annual salary for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers is $33,580 ($16.14/hour). The salary range spans from $25,780 at the 10th percentile to $43,970 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers the most? ▼
District of Columbia pays the highest median salary for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers at $60,400/year, which is +80% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers is No formal educational credential. On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers? ▼
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 7.3 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 2.5 per 100 workers.
Is Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers a good career? ▼
Employment for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers is projected to grow 5.8% from 2024 to 2034, which is about average. About 42,700 openings are projected each year.
How does Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers pay vary by state? ▼
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $60,400/year, while Oklahoma pays the least at $25,250/year. BLS data covers 52 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers is Kahului-Wailuku, HI at $64,030/year. BLS reports wage data for 368 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $37,520/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: District of Columbia leads at $60,400/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.