Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
Lifeguards
Lifeguards monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes, to provide assistance and protection to participants.
Table of contents
What they do
Lifeguards monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes, to provide assistance and protection to participants.
- Examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.
- Contact emergency medical personnel in case of serious injury.
- Rescue distressed persons, using rescue techniques and equipment.
- Instruct participants in skiing, swimming, or other recreational activities and provide safety precaution information.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Lifeguards maintain the quality of pool water by testing chemical levels. They patrol or monitor recreational areas such as trails, slopes, or swimming areas, on foot, in vehicles, or from towers.
A typical day for a Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Worker will also include:
- Inspect recreational equipment, such as rope tows, T-bars, J-bars, or chair lifts, for safety hazards and damage or wear.
- Observe activities in assigned areas, using binoculars, to detect hazards, disturbances, or safety infractions.
- Instruct participants in skiing, swimming, or other recreational activities and provide safety precaution information.
- Inspect recreational facilities for cleanliness.
- Warn recreational participants of inclement weather, unsafe areas, or illegal conduct.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Lifeguards also rescue distressed persons, using rescue techniques and equipment. They may also provide assistance with staff selection, training, and supervision.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Lifeguards provide assistance in the safe use of equipment, such as ski lifts. They might also inspect recreational equipment, such as rope tows, t-bars, j-bars, or chair lifts, for safety hazards and damage or wear.
In addition, they instruct participants in skiing, swimming, or other recreational activities and provide safety precaution information.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them complete and maintain records of weather and beach conditions, emergency medical treatments performed, and other relevant incident information.
To some Lifeguards, it is also their responsibility to examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
57% said they were satisfied with their job and 62% said they found their job meaningful.
One of the first jobs, when I was younger, is a lifeguard at the community pool. My days consisted of waking up early to open up the place with my co-workers and keep watch of the kids and people who used the pool throughout the day. When we were short-staffed I had to pull extra … Read More
We would start our day by reporting to HQ for a team debrief, and the team lead would issue tasks to pairs of us. This would include doing beach patrols, cleaning lifeguard equipment such as sea doos and rescue boards, and closing off sections of the beach prone to seasonal rip currents. We would also … Read More
My day used to start at 7.15 am and finish at 3.15. The leisure center opened at 8 am for the early swimmers so we had to be there early to clean the pool and to maintain cleanliness. When the pool opened we had one of 4 positions in the pool to monitor. The shallow … Read More
Pros
Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work both indoors and outdoors.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Short working hours (Less than 40 hours per week).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to work with designs.
One of the lowest paying jobs.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Lifeguards with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $18,490 to $20,680 per year or $9 to $10 per hour.
Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Highest (Top 10%) | $38,330 | $18 |
Senior (Top 25%) | $30,070 | $14 |
Median | $25,020 | $12 |
Junior (Bottom 25%) | $20,680 | $10 |
No experience (Bottom 10%) | $18,490 | $9 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Lifeguards based on their average annual salary.
Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
State Government | $36090 | $17.35 |
Child Day Care Services | $32580 | $15.66 |
Grantmaking and Giving Services | $31210 | $15.01 |
Religious Organizations | $30800 | $14.81 |
Specialty Hospitals | $30740 | $14.78 |
Individual and Family Services | $28890 | $13.89 |
Local Government | $28880 | $13.88 |
Social Advocacy Organizations | $28610 | $13.75 |
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $28120 | $13.52 |
Real Estate | $28020 | $13.47 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Lifeguards work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Lifeguards including the average salary in that industry.
Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
---|---|---|---|
Local Government | 44730 | $28880 | $13.88 |
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | 25560 | $24870 | $11.96 |
Civic and Social Organizations | 14300 | $24880 | $11.96 |
Amusement Parks and Arcades | 5330 | $24530 | $11.79 |
Traveler Accommodation | 4890 | $27630 | $13.28 |
Elementary and Secondary Schools | 3040 | $27400 | $13.17 |
Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | 2180 | $27020 | $12.99 |
State Government | 2100 | $36090 | $17.35 |
Other Schools and Instruction | 1910 | $27740 | $13.34 |
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 1770 | $26160 | $12.58 |
What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
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Telephone
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Group discussions
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Public speaking
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Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services
Relevant work experience
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On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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