How much does a lifeguard make in Des Moines?

$26,480a year

Median yearly pay for lifeguards in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area. That is $12.73 an hour or $2,207 a month.

Hourly: $12.73
Vs. national median: -21%
Rank among cities: 214 of 263
Jobs in the area: 370

Pay range

Lowest 10%: $20,620Median: $26,480Highest 10%: $29,030

Percentile	Yearly	Hourly
10th	$20,620	$9.91
25th	$22,000	$10.58
Median	$26,480	$12.73
75th	$28,890	$13.89
90th	$29,030	$13.96

Other cities in Iowa

Median yearly pay for lifeguards.

Cedar Rapids, IA	$31,460
Davenport, IA	$31,200
Iowa City, IA	$30,620
Omaha, NE	$29,300
Sioux City, IA	$28,080
Waterloo, IA	$23,190

Lifeguard salary in Iowa Lifeguard salary in all states

Related jobs in Des Moines

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective	$117,800
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker	$110,200
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer	$90,370
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer	$81,810
Detective and Criminal Investigator	$79,560
Correctional Officer and Jailer	$63,230
Transportation Security Screener	$61,590
Firefighter	$56,910
First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker	$45,700
Security Guard	$37,550

Salaries for every job in Des Moines, IA

Frequently asked questions

How much does a lifeguard make an hour in Des Moines?

The median hourly pay in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $12.73 ($26,480 a year).

Do lifeguards make more in Des Moines than the national average?

No: $26,480 against $33,580 nationally, 21% less.

How does Des Moines compare with the rest of Iowa?

The median in Iowa is $25,460, so Des Moines pays 4% more.

Where does Des Moines rank for lifeguard pay?

214 of 263 metro areas with data.

How much does a lifeguard make starting out in Des Moines?

The lowest-paid 10% make $20,620 or less a year; the top 10% make $29,030 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.