How much does a lifeguard make in Santa Maria?

$39,580a year

Median yearly pay for lifeguards in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area. That is $19.03 an hour or $3,298 a month.

Hourly: $19.03
Vs. national median: +18%
Rank among cities: 11 of 263
Jobs in the area: 260

Pay range

Lowest 10%: $34,320Median: $39,580Highest 10%: $54,100

Percentile	Yearly	Hourly
10th	$34,320	$16.50
25th	$35,320	$16.98
Median	$39,580	$19.03
75th	$49,450	$23.77
90th	$54,100	$26.01

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
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 Santa Maria

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective	$161,400
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker	$132,900
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer	$120,900
Correctional Officer and Jailer	$94,740
Fire Inspector and Investigator	$86,830
Firefighter	$82,250
Transportation Security Screener	$71,240
First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker	$60,860
Crossing Guard and Flagger	$44,530
Security Guard	$43,250

Salaries for every job in Santa Maria, CA

Frequently asked questions

How much does a lifeguard make an hour in Santa Maria?

The median hourly pay in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $19.03 ($39,580 a year).

Do lifeguards make more in Santa Maria than the national average?

Yes: $39,580 against $33,580 nationally, 18% more.

How does Santa Maria compare with the rest of California?

The median in California is $42,720, so Santa Maria pays 7% less.

Where does Santa Maria rank for lifeguard pay?

11 of 263 metro areas with data.

How much does a lifeguard make starting out in Santa Maria?

The lowest-paid 10% make $34,320 or less a year; the top 10% make $54,100 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.