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How much does a lifeguard make in San Jose?

$42,460a year

Median yearly pay for lifeguards in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $20.41 an hour or $3,538 a month.

Hourly
$20.41
Vs. national median
+26%
Rank among cities
7 of 263
Jobs in the area
1,020
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $37,650Median: $42,460Highest 10%: $48,900
PercentileYearlyHourly
10th$37,650$18.10
25th$38,040$18.29
Median$42,460$20.41
75th$45,260$21.76
90th$48,900$23.51

Other cities in California

Median yearly pay for lifeguards.

Los Angeles, CA$43,800
San Diego, CA$43,050
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 San Jose

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker$171,700
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective$163,700
Detective and Criminal Investigator$158,600
Firefighter$152,100
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer$136,100
Correctional Officer and Jailer$132,700
First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Worker$92,410
Transportation Security Screener$78,940
Parking Enforcement Worker$70,590
Private Detective and Investigator$64,060
Salaries for every job in San Jose, CA

Frequently asked questions

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

The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $20.41 ($42,460 a year).

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

Yes: $42,460 against $33,580 nationally, 26% more.

How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?

The median in California is $42,720, so San Jose pays 1% less.

Where does San Jose rank for lifeguard pay?

7 of 263 metro areas with data.

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

The lowest-paid 10% make $37,650 or less a year; the top 10% make $48,900 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.