Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary in North Carolina
Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers in North Carolina earned a median of $27,310 a year ($13.13 an hour) and a mean of $29,100 in May 2025. The median is 18.7% below the U.S. median of $33,580, ranking 43rd of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $27,310
- Median hourly
- $13.13
- Mean annual
- $29,100
- Jobs on record
- 4,850
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 North Carolina compare on pay for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers?
North Carolina ranks 43rd of 52 states and territories. District of Columbia is highest at $60,400, $33,090 more than the North Carolina median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 41 | $28,130 | -16% | 1,080 |
| Ohio | 42 | $27,770 | -17% | 6,450 |
| North Carolina | 43 | $27,310 | -19% | 4,850 |
| Kansas | 44 | $27,220 | -19% | 1,750 |
| Arkansas | 45 | $27,000 | -20% | 530 |
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 North Carolina pay go further after prices?
Prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the U.S. average, so the $27,310 median buys about what $28,953 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $33,580 U.S. median. On this measure North Carolina ranks 46th of 51, down from 43rd 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 North Carolina pay lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers the most?
Fayetteville, NC is highest at $35,230, 29.0% above the North Carolina median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, NC | $35,230 | 150 |
| Burlington, NC | $30,790 | 50 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $30,100 | 280 |
| Asheville, NC | $29,120 | 70 |
| Greenville, NC | $28,930 | 50 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $28,740 | 1,880 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $27,380 | 990 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $27,280 | 260 |
| Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $27,200 | 250 |
| Wilmington, NC | $27,070 | 260 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $26,300 | 220 |
| Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $25,170 | 240 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $24,480 | 120 |
| Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $24,210 | 110 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $23,170 | 50 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
BLS counts 4,850 jobs in North Carolina, 3.1% of the 157,550 in the U.S. That is the 11th largest count among the 52 states and territories with a published figure. That is 0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in North Carolina, a location quotient of 0.97: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.97 times its national share, so it is about as concentrated here as in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the North Carolina 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 North Carolina was $10.50 in May 2025, $3.25 above the $7.25 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 North Carolina
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.