How much does a lifeguard make in San Francisco?

$39,120a year

Median yearly pay for lifeguards in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $18.81 an hour or $3,260 a month.

Hourly: $18.81
Vs. national median: +16%
Rank among cities: 15 of 263
Jobs in the area: 2,000

Pay range

Lowest 10%: $36,330Median: $39,120Highest 10%: $51,250

Percentile	Yearly	Hourly
10th	$36,330	$17.47
25th	$37,440	$18.00
Median	$39,120	$18.81
75th	$44,180	$21.24
90th	$51,250	$24.64

Other cities in California

Median yearly pay for lifeguards.

Los Angeles, CA	$43,800
San Diego, CA	$43,050
San Jose, CA	$42,460
Santa Cruz, CA	$39,970
Santa Maria, CA	$39,580
Riverside, CA	$39,160
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 San Francisco

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective	$175,800
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker	$159,600
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer	$132,000
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer	$131,600
Fire Inspector and Investigator	$129,400
Detective and Criminal Investigator	$126,700
Firefighter	$113,700
Correctional Officer and Jailer	$99,880
First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Worker	$98,590
Parking Enforcement Worker	$86,040

Salaries for every job in San Francisco, CA

Frequently asked questions

How much does a lifeguard make an hour in San Francisco?

The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $18.81 ($39,120 a year).

Do lifeguards make more in San Francisco than the national average?

Yes: $39,120 against $33,580 nationally, 16% more.

How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?

The median in California is $42,720, so San Francisco pays 8% less.

Where does San Francisco rank for lifeguard pay?

15 of 263 metro areas with data.

How much does a lifeguard make starting out in San Francisco?

The lowest-paid 10% make $36,330 or less a year; the top 10% make $51,250 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.