Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Career, Salary and Skills
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $33,580 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 157,550. Wage data is published for 315 locations.
Occupation description
Monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes, to provide assistance and protection to participants.
O*NET code
33-9092.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
Less than a High School Diploma
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$33,580
Hourly median
$16.14
Employment
157,550
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$25,780
10th
$28,880
25th
$33,580
Median
$37,520
75th
$43,970
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.75 | 3.50 |
| Speaking | 3.50 | 3.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.38 | 3.25 |
| Service Orientation | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Active Listening | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.00 | 2.62 |
| Coordination | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.00 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- Rescue distressed persons, using rescue techniques and equipment.
- Patrol or monitor recreational areas, such as trails, slopes, or swimming areas, on foot, in vehicles, or from towers.
- 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.
Technology
- GroupMe
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Publisher
- Microsoft Word
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary in CAMedian $42,720 · Employment 22,620
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $43,800 · Employment 11,640
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary in TXMedian $29,450 · Employment 11,320
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary in New York, NYMedian $36,600 · Employment 9,610
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary in FLMedian $35,040 · Employment 9,460
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary in VAMedian $30,070 · Employment 8,920
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary in NYMedian $36,590 · Employment 8,740
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary in OHMedian $27,770 · Employment 6,450
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary in ILMedian $33,710 · Employment 5,880
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary in NJMedian $34,760 · Employment 5,460
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary in PAMedian $29,480 · Employment 5,450
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary in COMedian $35,640 · Employment 5,430
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.