Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
Also called: Aquatics Coordinator, Aquatics Lifeguard, Aquatics Specialist, Beach Attendant, Beach Lifeguard, Bus Monitor, Certified Lifeguard, Certified Ski Patroller
Monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes, to provide assistance and protection to participants.
What Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers do
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Inspect recreational equipment, such as rope tows, T-bars, J-bars, or chair lifts, for safety hazards and damage or wear.
- Inspect recreational facilities for cleanliness.
- Observe activities in assigned areas, using binoculars, to detect hazards, disturbances, or safety infractions.
- Operate underwater recovery units.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers salary
The median annual wage for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers is $33,580 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $25,780 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $43,970. The mean annual wage is $34,470.
The mean hourly wage of $16.00 is 2.2× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $33,580 → in 3 years $37,100 → in 5 years $39,700 → in 10 years $46,900 (10-year range $40,300–$54,400). The model assumes pay growth of +3.4% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
Skills, education and requirements for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★☆☆☆☆ Easy to enter (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.