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Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers: Career Profile
Monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes, to provide assistance and protection to participants.
What Do Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Perform?
Typical responsibilities of lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers include:
- 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.
- Instruct participants in skiing, swimming, or other recreational activities and provide safety precaution information.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Aquatics Coordinator
- Aquatics Lifeguard
- Aquatics Specialist
- Beach Attendant
- Beach Lifeguard
- Bus Monitor
- Certified Lifeguard
- Certified Ski Patroller
Employment and Demand
There are about 37,492 lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +6.6% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $45,141 |
| Hourly median | $21.70 |
| 10th percentile | $31,960 |
| 25th percentile | $38,550 |
| 75th percentile | $51,732 |
| 90th percentile | $58,323 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $58,640 |
| Hawaii | $55,540 |
| California | $42,520 |
| Washington | $38,510 |
| Massachusetts | $36,830 |
| Colorado | $36,290 |
| Rhode Island | $36,090 |
| New York | $35,890 |
| Vermont | $35,850 |
| Alaska | $35,650 |
| Arizona | $35,360 |
| New Jersey | $35,250 |
| Connecticut | $35,070 |
| Florida | $35,010 |
| Oregon | $34,960 |
| New Hampshire | $34,380 |
| Maryland | $33,860 |
| Maine | $33,650 |
| Illinois | $33,310 |
| Minnesota | $32,460 |
| Virginia | $31,610 |
| Georgia | $31,510 |
| Nevada | $31,200 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,950 |
| Delaware | $30,920 |
| Kentucky | $30,890 |
| Montana | $29,890 |
| South Dakota | $29,850 |
| Michigan | $29,660 |
| Texas | $29,240 |
| Wisconsin | $29,190 |
| Missouri | $29,190 |
| Indiana | $29,000 |
| Idaho | $28,810 |
| New Mexico | $28,570 |
| Utah | $28,400 |
| Ohio | $28,330 |
| North Dakota | $28,120 |
| Alabama | $27,790 |
| Wyoming | $27,570 |
| Nebraska | $27,550 |
| Tennessee | $27,140 |
| North Carolina | $27,040 |
| South Carolina | $26,350 |
| Arkansas | $25,820 |
| Iowa | $25,450 |
| Oklahoma | $25,120 |
| Kansas | $24,960 |
| West Virginia | $24,350 |
| Mississippi | $22,880 |
| Louisiana | $22,110 |
| Guam | $22,090 |
| Puerto Rico | $20,950 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $40,851 | 21.4% | 1.29 |
| New England | $35,913 | 3.3% | 0.72 |
| Middle Atlantic | $34,701 | 13.8% | 0.92 |
| Rocky Mountains | $33,111 | 6.1% | 1.70 |
| Southeast | $30,738 | 22.2% | 1.08 |
| Southwest | $30,323 | 11.3% | 0.93 |
| Great Lakes | $30,184 | 14.1% | 1.00 |
| Plains States | $28,658 | 7.6% | 1.15 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | HI | $71,250 | 100 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $51,990 | 330 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $45,190 | 1,070 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | TX | $43,770 | 1,990 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | AK | $43,580 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $43,450 | 10,320 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $43,190 | 2,640 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | MI | $42,390 | 390 |
Which Industries Hire Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
Most lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 48,790 | $31,840 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 19,290 | $31,060 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 7,140 | $36,330 |
| Educational Services | 6,750 | $32,650 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 2,240 | $32,740 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 1,540 | $36,170 |
Below are examples of industries where lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers work:
Software Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers reflects the following characteristics:
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
Education and Training
Typical lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers positions require less than a high school diploma as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors (Supplemental)
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Occupational Health and Safety Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Emergency Medical Technicians (Primary-Short)
- Paramedics (Primary-Long)
- Athletic Trainers (Supplemental)
- Orderlies (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers (Primary-Long)
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 33-9092.00 (Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers).
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