The average wage for a lifeguard in the United States is around $10.33 per hour.
Avg Wage
Lifeguards earn an average hourly wage of $10.33.
Salaries typically start from $7.86 per hour and go up to $13.56 per hour.
67% below national average Updated in 2019
Lifeguard earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level lifeguard earnings begin at:
$13.56 per hour
$28,210 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level lifeguard earnings begin at:
$11.92 per hour
$24,791 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level lifeguard earnings begin at:
$10.33 per hour
$21,476 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level lifeguard earnings begin at:
$8.94 per hour
$18,605 per year
10th percentile
Starting level lifeguard earnings begin at:
$7.86 per hour
$16,350 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Lifeguard salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $37,570 |
| Alaska | $37,076 |
| Hawaii | $36,452 |
| California | $30,243 |
| Florida | $26,690 |
| Washington | $26,510 |
| Massachusetts | $25,810 |
| New York | $25,160 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $24,840 |
| Vermont | $24,330 |
| Illinois | $24,220 |
| Rhode Island | $24,120 |
| North Dakota | $23,900 |
| Connecticut | $23,860 |
| Oregon | $23,820 |
| Minnesota | $23,710 |
| Arizona | $23,630 |
| New Hampshire | $23,480 |
| Wyoming | $23,420 |
| Colorado | $23,330 |
| Maryland | $22,650 |
| Maine | $22,640 |
| Indiana | $22,345 |
| New Jersey | $22,280 |
| Michigan | $22,250 |
| Nevada | $22,230 |
| Arkansas | $22,019 |
| Delaware | $21,910 |
| Virginia | $21,750 |
| South Dakota | $21,700 |
| Texas | $21,450 |
| Idaho | $21,279 |
| South Carolina | $21,090 |
| Ohio | $20,570 |
| Nebraska | $20,550 |
| Kansas | $20,306 |
| Montana | $20,250 |
| West Virginia | $20,050 |
| Guam | $19,910 |
| Pennsylvania | $19,868 |
| Georgia | $19,770 |
| Wisconsin | $19,770 |
| Tennessee | $19,410 |
| Utah | $19,300 |
| North Carolina | $19,180 |
| New Mexico | $19,010 |
| Mississippi | $18,920 |
| Louisiana | $18,800 |
| Missouri | $18,780 |
| Alabama | $18,689 |
| Oklahoma | $18,570 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,520 |
| Iowa | $17,956 |
| Kentucky | $17,023 |
How do lifeguard salaries compare to similar careers?
Lifeguards earn 6% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than janitors but more than cashiers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Janitor salary | $25K |
| Housekeeping cleaner salary | $25K |
| Barista salary | $25K |
| Retail salesperson salary | $23K |
| Host and hostess salary | $22K |
| Lifeguard salary | $21K |
| Amusement attendant salary | $21K |
| Cashier salary | $21K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)