How much does a lifeguard make in Chicago?

$33,750a year

Median yearly pay for lifeguards in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $16.23 an hour or $2,813 a month.

Hourly: $16.23
Vs. national median: +1%
Rank among cities: 83 of 263
Jobs in the area: 4,960

Pay range

Lowest 10%: $31,200Median: $33,750Highest 10%: $37,780

Percentile	Yearly	Hourly
10th	$31,200	$15.00
25th	$31,320	$15.06
Median	$33,750	$16.23
75th	$35,440	$17.04
90th	$37,780	$18.16

Other cities in Illinois

Median yearly pay for lifeguards.

Bloomington, IL	$33,270
Springfield, IL	$31,250
Davenport, IA	$31,200
Peoria, IL	$31,200
Rockford, IL	$31,200
St. Louis, MO	$30,730

Lifeguard salary in Illinois Lifeguard salary in all states

Related jobs in Chicago

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective	$135,100
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker	$126,200
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer	$107,800
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer	$105,500
Detective and Criminal Investigator	$102,300
First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Worker	$90,920
Correctional Officer and Jailer	$84,550
Firefighter	$82,820
Transportation Security Screener	$70,570
Private Detective and Investigator	$68,310

Salaries for every job in Chicago, IL

Frequently asked questions

How much does a lifeguard make an hour in Chicago?

The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $16.23 ($33,750 a year).

Do lifeguards make more in Chicago than the national average?

Yes: $33,750 against $33,580 nationally, 1% more.

How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?

The median in Illinois is $33,710, so Chicago pays 0% more.

Where does Chicago rank for lifeguard pay?

83 of 263 metro areas with data.

How much does a lifeguard make starting out in Chicago?

The lowest-paid 10% make $31,200 or less a year; the top 10% make $37,780 or more.

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.