Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
Is lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers a good career?
It scores 17/100 and ranks #416 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- High volume of openings — about 42,700 a year
- No college degree typically required to enter
Possible tradeoffs
- Pays below the U.S. median wage ($33,580 vs $61,390)
What lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers earn between $28,880 and $37,520 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Live lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers jobs
No live lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers openings yet
When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers openings will appear here — each shown against the $33,580 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.
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- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
Related occupations
How much do lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers make?
The national median wage is $33,580 a year, with the middle half earning between $28,880 and $37,520 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 17 of 100 and ranks #416 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +5.8% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service worker?
The typical entry-level education is no formal educational credential.
Where do lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers earn the most?
Among states, District of Columbia pays the highest median ($60,400). Local pay for every state and metro is below.