Average Salary for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
SOC 33-9092 · Protective Service Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in the United States is $33,720 ($16.21/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $24,860 at the 10th percentile to $44,600 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 143,590 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 76.6% since 2014.
Median Annual
$33,720
Mean Annual
$34,700
10th Pct
$24,860
75th Pct
$37,750
Employment
143,590
Salary Distribution
$25k
10th
$29k
25th
$34k
Median
$38k
75th
$45k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $71,250 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $51,990 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $45,190 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $43,770 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $43,580 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $43,450 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $43,190 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $42,390 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $41,370 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $40,280 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $39,790 |
| Traverse City, MI | $39,320 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $39,270 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $39,220 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $38,870 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $44,370 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $43,450 |
| Religious Organizations | $38,640 |
| Traveler Accommodation | $36,610 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | $36,330 |
| Accommodation | $36,330 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $36,170 |
| Real Estate | $36,170 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $35,910 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $35,900 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | $35,680 |
| Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists | $35,680 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $35,620 |
| Amusement Parks and Arcades | $35,460 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $34,930 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $34,930 |
| Educational Services | $34,710 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $34,670 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $34,570 |
| Hospitals | $34,540 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $34,480 |
| Casino Hotels | $34,480 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $34,480 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $34,300 |
| Temporary Help Services | $33,990 |
| Employment Services | $33,990 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities | $33,880 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $33,640 |
| Junior Colleges | $33,470 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | $33,310 |
| Individual and Family Services | $33,140 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $33,050 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $32,950 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $32,740 |
| Educational Services | $32,650 |
| Social Assistance | $32,110 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $31,840 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $31,840 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $31,770 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $31,770 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $31,280 |
| Child Care Services | $31,200 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers | $31,200 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $31,200 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $31,060 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $31,060 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $30,930 |
| Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities | $30,860 |
| Gambling Industries | $29,970 |
| RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps | $29,950 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $29,750 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $29,700 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | $28,740 |
| Spectator Sports | $27,620 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $26,680 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $26,680 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $26,680 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $33,720 |
| 2023 | $30,380 |
| 2022 | $27,270 |
| 2021 | $25,630 |
| 2020 | $25,020 |
| 2019 | $23,420 |
| 2018 | $22,410 |
| 2017 | $21,290 |
| 2016 | $20,290 |
| 2015 | $19,500 |
| 2014 | $19,090 |