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When considering a career as a pool lifeguard, salary remains a top concern for job seekers across various demographics. Understanding the average pay for lifeguards in your state is crucial as you evaluate your potential earnings in this role.
While individual salaries can vary based on experience, location, and the specific facility, we have compiled comprehensive data on average pool lifeguard salaries by state, categorized by seniority level. These figures provide a general idea of what you can expect to earn in different regions of the United States.
To paint a clearer picture of how salaries differ nationwide, we examined the latest statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics regarding average compensation for pool lifeguards by state.
Additionally, we adjusted these salaries based on each state’s cost of living, recognizing that your earnings stretch further in some states than in others. For example, a salary in North Carolina may provide a more comfortable lifestyle compared to that same salary in California.
The state offering the highest adjusted salary for pool lifeguards is Wyoming, making it an attractive option for those considering this career path.
Here are the top ten states for pool lifeguard salaries:
Let’s dive deeper into how we calculated these figures and present a full ranking of lifeguard salaries by state.
If you’re interested in exploring more about career opportunities, check out these articles:
Methodology for Determining Pay by State
In our analysis, we utilized the latest annual salary data for pool lifeguards from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, specifically their ‘Occupational Employment Statistics’ report.
To ensure a fair comparison of salaries across states, we factored in the cost of living for each state. This was achieved by creating an index that divides the average wage for a state by its cost of living relative to the national average. For instance, with a cost of living index of 135.9 in California and an average salary of $31,940, we calculated:
$31,940 * (100 / 135.9) = $23,502
States were then ranked based on this adjusted salary index, with the highest-ranking state reflecting the best average salary for pool lifeguards.
Detailed List of Pool Lifeguard Salaries by State
| Rank | State | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $26,187 |
| 2 | Washington | $25,285 |
| 3 | Alaska | $25,270 |
| 4 | Florida | $25,167 |
| 5 | Illinois | $23,826 |
| 6 | Michigan | $23,685 |
| 7 | California | $23,502 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $22,444 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $22,430 |
| 10 | Arizona | $22,255 |
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
