How much does a lifeguard make in San Luis Obispo?

$36,360a year

Median yearly pay for lifeguards in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area. That is $17.48 an hour or $3,030 a month.

Hourly: $17.48
Vs. national median: +8%
Rank among cities: 37 of 263
Jobs in the area: 200

Pay range

Lowest 10%: $34,320Median: $36,360Highest 10%: $48,010

Percentile	Yearly	Hourly
10th	$34,320	$16.50
25th	$35,690	$17.16
Median	$36,360	$17.48
75th	$44,280	$21.29
90th	$48,010	$23.08

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
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
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 Luis Obispo

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective	$140,400
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer	$132,500
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker	$113,700
Correctional Officer and Jailer	$107,200
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer	$101,900
Firefighter	$75,910
Transportation Security Screener	$71,240
Crossing Guard and Flagger	$48,100
Security Guard	$42,980

Salaries for every job in San Luis Obispo, CA

Frequently asked questions

How much does a lifeguard make an hour in San Luis Obispo?

The median hourly pay in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area is $17.48 ($36,360 a year).

Do lifeguards make more in San Luis Obispo than the national average?

Yes: $36,360 against $33,580 nationally, 8% more.

How does San Luis Obispo compare with the rest of California?

The median in California is $42,720, so San Luis Obispo pays 15% less.

Where does San Luis Obispo rank for lifeguard pay?

37 of 263 metro areas with data.

How much does a lifeguard make starting out in San Luis Obispo?

The lowest-paid 10% make $34,320 or less a year; the top 10% make $48,010 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.