How much does a lifeguard make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $16.14 an hour or $2,798 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.14
- Average (mean)
- $34,470
- Jobs
- 157,550
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25,780 | $12.39 | |
| 25th | $28,880 | $13.88 | |
| Median | $33,580 | $16.14 | |
| 75th | $37,520 | $18.04 | |
| 90th | $43,970 | $21.14 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| District of Columbia | $60,400 |
| Hawaii | $52,630 |
| California | $42,720 |
| Washington | $37,770 |
| Montana | $37,750 |
| Massachusetts | $36,650 |
| New York | $36,590 |
| Vermont | $36,030 |
| Connecticut | $35,960 |
| Rhode Island | $35,770 |
| Colorado | $35,640 |
| Arizona | $35,380 |
| Florida | $35,040 |
| Oregon | $35,030 |
| New Jersey | $34,760 |
| Alaska | $34,540 |
| Maryland | $34,520 |
| Maine | $34,320 |
| Illinois | $33,710 |
| New Hampshire | $32,100 |
| Delaware | $31,930 |
| Minnesota | $31,870 |
| South Dakota | $30,990 |
| Georgia | $30,880 |
| Nevada | $30,830 |
| Virginia | $30,070 |
| Michigan | $29,760 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,480 |
| Texas | $29,450 |
| Missouri | $29,260 |
| Nebraska | $29,100 |
| Wyoming | $29,030 |
| Idaho | $28,770 |
| Utah | $28,720 |
| Indiana | $28,640 |
| New Mexico | $28,590 |
| Wisconsin | $28,570 |
| Kentucky | $28,520 |
| North Dakota | $28,430 |
| Tennessee | $28,200 |
| Alabama | $28,130 |
| Ohio | $27,770 |
| North Carolina | $27,310 |
| Kansas | $27,220 |
| Arkansas | $27,000 |
| South Carolina | $26,210 |
| Iowa | $25,460 |
| Oklahoma | $25,250 |
| West Virginia | $24,670 |
| Mississippi | $24,440 |
| Louisiana | $22,240 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Kahului, HI | $64,030 |
| Honolulu, HI | $49,730 |
| Bozeman, MT | $44,610 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $43,800 |
| Austin, TX | $43,260 |
| San Diego, CA | $43,050 |
| San Jose, CA | $42,460 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $42,330 |
| Crestview, FL | $41,310 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $39,970 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $39,580 |
| Traverse City, MI | $39,270 |
| Seattle, WA | $39,240 |
| Riverside, CA | $39,160 |
| San Francisco, CA | $39,120 |
In other countries
Lifeguard belongs to the international group "Protective services workers not elsewhere classified".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lifeguard make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $16.14 ($33,580 a year).
How much does a lifeguard make a month?
About $2,798 a month before tax, based on a median of $33,580 a year.
How much does a lifeguard make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $25,780 or less a year ($12.39 an hour); the top 10% make $43,970 or more.
Which state pays lifeguards the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $60,400 a year, followed by Hawaii ($52,630) and California ($42,720).
Which city pays lifeguards the most?
Kahului-Wailuku, HI, with a median of $64,030 a year.
How many lifeguards are there in the United States?
About 157,550 people work as lifeguards.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.