Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary in Florida
Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers in Florida earned a median of $35,040 a year ($16.85 an hour) and a mean of $35,510 in May 2025. The median is 4.3% above the U.S. median of $33,580, ranking 13th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $35,040
- Median hourly
- $16.85
- Mean annual
- $35,510
- Jobs on record
- 9,460
Grey needle: U.S. median, $33,580 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does Florida compare on pay for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers?
Florida ranks 13th of 52 states and territories. District of Columbia is highest at $60,400, $25,360 more than the Florida median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 11 | $35,640 | +6% | 5,430 |
| Arizona | 12 | $35,380 | +5% | 3,950 |
| Florida | 13 | $35,040 | +4% | 9,460 |
| Oregon | 14 | $35,030 | +4% | 1,860 |
| New Jersey | 15 | $34,760 | +4% | 5,460 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 52 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does Florida pay go further after prices?
Prices in Florida run 3.4% above the U.S. average, so the $35,040 median buys about what $33,883 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $33,580 U.S. median. On this measure Florida ranks 16th of 51, down from 13th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in Florida pay lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers the most?
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL is highest at $41,310, 17.9% above the Florida median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $41,310 | 50 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $38,900 | 310 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $37,230 | 2,730 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $36,740 | 120 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $36,300 | 100 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $35,870 | 80 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $35,800 | 80 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $34,770 | 310 |
| South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $34,680 | 60 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $34,600 | 120 |
| Ocala, FL | $34,130 | 70 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $33,500 | 750 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $31,820 | 120 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $31,720 | 620 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $30,510 | 2,980 |
| North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $30,250 | 60 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | not published | 140 |
| Tallahassee, FL | not published | 130 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Florida is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers work in Florida?
BLS counts 9,460 jobs in Florida, 6.0% of the 157,550 in the U.S. That is the 3rd largest count among the 52 states and territories with a published figure. That is 0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in Florida, a location quotient of 0.94: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.94 times its national share, so it is less concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the Florida minimum wage compare with pay for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers in Florida was $13.71 in May 2025, $1.29 below the $15.00 minimum wage that applies there now. The pay figure dates from May 2025 and the minimum wage is the current rate, so the two are not from the same date.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05; BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, 10th-percentile hourly wage.
Related jobs in Florida
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.