How much does a lifeguard make in Los Angeles?

$43,800a year

Median yearly pay for lifeguards in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area. That is $21.06 an hour or $3,650 a month.

Hourly: $21.06
Vs. national median: +30%
Rank among cities: 4 of 263
Jobs in the area: 11,640

Pay range

Lowest 10%: $35,530Median: $43,800Highest 10%: $61,510

Percentile	Yearly	Hourly
10th	$35,530	$17.08
25th	$38,470	$18.50
Median	$43,800	$21.06
75th	$46,020	$22.13
90th	$61,510	$29.57

Other cities in California

Median yearly pay for lifeguards.

San Diego, CA	$43,050
San Jose, CA	$42,460
Santa Cruz, CA	$39,970
Santa Maria, CA	$39,580
Riverside, CA	$39,160
San Francisco, CA	$39,120
Stockton, CA	$38,480
Sacramento, CA	$38,070
Oxnard, CA	$37,650
Santa Rosa, CA	$37,320
Vallejo, CA	$37,010
Modesto, CA	$36,960
Bakersfield, CA	$36,360
San Luis Obispo, CA	$36,360
Fresno, CA	$35,820
Salinas, CA	$34,620
Chico, CA	$34,320
El Centro, CA	$34,320

Lifeguard salary in California Lifeguard salary in all states

Related jobs in Los Angeles

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker	$169,400
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective	$167,600
Detective and Criminal Investigator	$127,900
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer	$127,400
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer	$122,000
Forest Fire Inspector and Prevention Specialist	$105,500
Firefighter	$98,050
First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Worker	$94,810
Fire Inspector and Investigator	$94,140
Fish and Game Warden	$87,140

Salaries for every job in Los Angeles, CA

Frequently asked questions

How much does a lifeguard make an hour in Los Angeles?

The median hourly pay in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $21.06 ($43,800 a year).

Do lifeguards make more in Los Angeles than the national average?

Yes: $43,800 against $33,580 nationally, 30% more.

How does Los Angeles compare with the rest of California?

The median in California is $42,720, so Los Angeles pays 3% more.

Where does Los Angeles rank for lifeguard pay?

4 of 263 metro areas with data.

How much does a lifeguard make starting out in Los Angeles?

The lowest-paid 10% make $35,530 or less a year; the top 10% make $61,510 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.