Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers: Job Description
Monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes, to provide assistance and protection to participants.
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What Do Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Do?
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
Top lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Aquatics Coordinator
- Aquatics Lifeguard
- Aquatics Specialist
- Beach Attendant
- Beach Lifeguard
- Bus Monitor
- Certified Lifeguard
- Certified Ski Patroller
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 37,492 lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected 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.
How Much Do Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Make in Different U.S. States?
| 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 |
Where Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Earn the Most
Compensation for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers shift depending on where you work. 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 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| 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
The largest employers of 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 |
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers work in the following industries:
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)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers is shaped by 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
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers positions require less than a high school diploma as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
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)
Where to Study
Students preparing for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers often complete programs in:
Natural Resources and Conservation
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced 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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