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Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, or Recreational Protective Service Worker

Life As a Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, or Recreational Protective Service Worker

Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, or Recreational Protective Service Worker Job Description Monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes to provide assistance and protection to participants.

Life As a Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, or Recreational Protective Service Worker

  • Warn recreational participants of inclement weather, unsafe areas, or illegal conduct.
  • Inspect recreational facilities for cleanliness.
  • Maintain quality of pool water by testing chemical levels.
  • Operate underwater recovery units.
  • Contact emergency medical personnel in case of serious injury.
  • Provide assistance with staff selection, training, and supervision.

What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, or Recreational Protective Service Worker?

When polled, Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Recreational Protective Service Workers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Types of Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, or Recreational Protective Service Worker

  • Pool Lifeguard
  • Boating Safety Officer
  • Alpine Patroller
  • Ski Patrol Director
  • Pool Attendant

What Kind of Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, or Recreational Protective Service Worker Job Opportunities Are There?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 152,100 jobs in the United States for Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, or Recreational Protective Service Worker. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 11,600 new jobs for Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, or Recreational Protective Service Worker by 2026. There will be an estimated 39,700 positions for Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, or Recreational Protective Service Worker per year.

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The states with the most job growth for Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, or Recreational Protective Service Worker are Utah, Colorado, and New Jersey. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Rhode Island, or West Virginia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, or Recreational Protective Service Worker Salary

The typical yearly salary for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Recreational Protective Service Workers is somewhere between $17,560 and $34,400.

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Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Recreational Protective Service Workers who work in Hawaii, District of Columbia, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Recreational Protective Service Workers in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $19,300
Alaska $37,510
Arizona $24,770
Arkansas $20,360
California $34,430
Colorado $25,330
Connecticut $25,520
Delaware $22,820
District of Columbia $36,810
Florida $26,690
Georgia $20,660
Hawaii $40,370
Idaho $19,870
Illinois $24,220
Indiana $19,900
Iowa $20,330
Kansas $19,560
Kentucky $19,620
Louisiana $19,670
Maine $23,460
Maryland $22,650
Massachusetts $27,940
Michigan $25,160
Minnesota $25,260
Mississippi $19,840
Missouri $19,280
Montana $21,200
Nebraska $21,760
Nevada $22,460
New Hampshire $24,820
New Jersey $25,620
New Mexico $20,890
New York $27,630
North Carolina $20,210
North Dakota $25,030
Ohio $20,570
Oklahoma $19,260
Oregon $24,510
Pennsylvania $20,320
Rhode Island $25,360
South Carolina $21,090
South Dakota $22,150
Tennessee $20,320
Texas $21,450
Utah $21,500
Vermont $25,760
Virginia $23,180
Washington $29,120
West Virginia $21,270
Wisconsin $20,810
Wyoming $26,560

What Tools & Technology do Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Recreational Protective Service Workers Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Recreational Protective Service Workers may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Publisher

How do I Become a Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, or Recreational Protective Service Worker?

Individuals working as a Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, or Recreational Protective Service Worker have obtained the following education levels:

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Where Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Recreational Protective Service Workers Are Employed

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The table below shows the approximate number of Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Recreational Protective Service Workers employed by various industries.

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Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those who work as a Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, or Recreational Protective Service Worker sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

References:

Image Credit: Brian M. Powell via Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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