How to hire an aquatics manager

How to hire an aquatics manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step aquatics manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an aquatics manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new aquatics manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your aquatics manager job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an aquatics manager for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

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   Hiring the perfect aquatics manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents aquatics manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Aquatics Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Aquatics Manager		$11-26
   Lead Program Manager	A lead program manager is responsible for coordinating departmental projects and ensuring that the programs adhere to the business guidelines and functions to achieve long-term goals and objectives. Lead program managers strategize techniques in developing business plans and managing budget allocation across departments... Show more	$42-75
   Program/Project Manager	The program manager and project manager are two important positions within a company that are thought to be similar. However, program managers direct diverse projects and programs while project managers head the team who is responsible for ensuring a project is completed on time and within budget... Show more	$35-66

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • CPR
   • Cleanliness
   • CPO
   • Water Safety
   • Swim Lessons
   • Financial Reports
   • Aquatic Facility
   • Lifeguard Training
   • Swim Instructors
   • Emergency Situations
   • Aquatic Programs
   • Staff Training
   • Safety Rules

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Ensure first-rate lifeguard performance during pool hours, providing maximum safety and customer satisfaction.
   • Examine injured individuals, administer first aid.

   More aquatics manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your aquatics manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An aquatics manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, aquatics managers' average salary in florida is 50% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level aquatics managers earn 59% less than senior-level aquatics managers.
   • Certifications. An aquatics manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an aquatics manager's salary.

   Average aquatics manager salary

   $36,553yearly

   $17.57 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level aquatics manager salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 30, 2026

   Average aquatics manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Maryland	$45,102	$22
   2	Virginia	$44,250	$21
   3	Pennsylvania	$42,994	$21
   4	Connecticut	$38,451	$18
   5	California	$38,270	$18
   6	Michigan	$38,034	$18
   7	New Jersey	$35,492	$17
   8	Minnesota	$34,580	$17
   9	Georgia	$33,163	$16
   10	Indiana	$31,358	$15
   11	Illinois	$31,283	$15
   12	Colorado	$29,909	$14
   13	Oregon	$29,847	$14
   14	North Carolina	$28,850	$14
   15	Kansas	$28,209	$14
   16	New Mexico	$27,511	$13
   17	Texas	$26,268	$13
   18	South Carolina	$25,480	$12

   Average aquatics manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs	$45,328	$21.79
   2	Active Wellness	$45,291	$21.77	4
   3	The University System of Maryland Foundation	$39,594	$19.04
   4	Approved Cash	$38,087	$18.31
   5	Prince William County	$37,200	$17.88
   6	Goldfish Swim School	$36,687	$17.64	8
   7	Bear Paddle	$36,388	$17.49
   8	FHI 360	$35,621	$17.13
   9	Hinsdale Central High School	$35,588	$17.11
   10	City of Lakewood	$35,118	$16.88
   11	State of West Virginia	$34,071	$16.38	30
   12	WTS International	$33,731	$16.22
   13	Alterra Mountain	$33,284	$16.00
   14	Troon	$32,726	$15.73	8
   15	CITY OF SANIBEL	$32,111	$15.44
   16	City of Burlington	$32,039	$15.40
   17	Roseville Area Schools	$31,887	$15.33
   18	City of Farmington	$30,467	$14.65
   19	Palace Entertainment	$29,722	$14.29
   20	Village of Orland Park	$27,701	$13.32

4. Writing an aquatics manager job description

   A job description for an aquatics manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an aquatics manager job description:

   Aquatics manager job description example

   Arch Amenities Group, the world's leading spa, fitness and leisure firm, is seeking a Aquatics and Events Manager for the Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center in Washington, PA. This person is responsible for overseeing all aspects and programming of member aquatic and rentals, as well as, overseeing staff with a focus on the member client experience. The Aquatics and Events Manager will be responsible for department revenue goals, new membership intake and integration, as well as, the service and retention, program variety/participation, and department expense management. This position is also responsible for direct management over the swim lesson instructors, the lifeguards, as well as Party Coordinators.”
   
   Currently, the lifeguard coordinator and swim lesson coordinator do not exist and all staff will report directly to Aquatics Manager. Also once we do have the positions filled, the staff will still report to the manager, but the coordinators will take care of calls, customer service, scheduling, safety checks, ect.
   Responsibilities Oversee aspects of operations, event (Pool Parties, Gym Parties, and Facility Rentals etc.) strategy, planning and staffing for aquatics, sport and recreation programs, and programming departments. Also responsible for special programs, such as Holiday Pool events. Develop and implement department operating procedures, with quality measures and controls. Develop effective member programs, workshops and events. Hold monthly department meetings with minutes and clear action points. Recruit, hire, train, develop, and evaluate all aquatics and sports and recreation staff. Participate in the Operations M.O.D. program. Develop monthly plan for achieving benchmarks. Develop monthly plan for achieving revenue goals with accountability for all department members. Consistently maintain expense control measures for the department, with careful attention to scheduling, payroll, and aquatic commissions. Submit weekly payroll in a timely manner. Assemble and authorize payroll documents with back up documentation for aquatics and sports and rec. Periodic reports to track trending and needs. Coordinating with Operations Manager to keep all equipment clean and in good operating order. Establish staff criteria, and performance standards and expectations. Institute department inventory controls and expense management system. Provide leadership, support, motivation, and performance development for staff, with cross training for all departments as necessary. Perform daily department walk through observing relevant action points. Develop member usage and retention action plans. Conduct periodic formal performance reviews with staff. Enforce departmental policies through effective Center communications system. Communicate with manager proactively on all matters relative to Center operations, staff and members. Resolve staff and/or member issues using customer service and leadership skills. Maintain a professional attire and demeanor at all times. Stay current on industry trends. Participate in Center and community events as needed. Offsite Community Swim Lessons. Qualifications • College degree required in Exercise Science, Physical Education, Kinesiology, or related field.
   • Current CPR, AED and First Aid training.
   • Current CPO and Pesticide License a plus
   • Minimum two years of experience overseeing kids programs in a wellness/activity center setting required, showing positive outcomes and impact.
   • Strong problem solving and customer service background. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
   • Requires long periods of standing or sitting.
   • Moderate use of computer terminal screen, right or left hand use, typing.
   • Grasping and gripping movements
   • Ability to lift 50 lbs. Some lifting may require additional assistance from another staff person. Employee is expected to use discretionary judgment and ask for assistance from another employee if an item is perceived to be too heavy to lift without assistance.
   • Use of personal safety equipment required.
   • Frequent use of chemicals, including cleaning and laundry supplies.
   • Continuous exposure to moderate to loud noise.
   • Occasional exposure to bodily fluids.
   • Occasional lifting, pulling, climbing, kneeling, and bending.
   • Must be able to demonstrate verbally or physically,
   • Intermediate writing skills Facility/Job Highlights Arch Amenities Group is an equal employment opportunity employer that is committed to having a diverse work force. We can recommend jobs specifically for you! Click here to get started.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find aquatics managers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your aquatics manager job on Zippia to find and recruit aquatics manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit aquatics managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new aquatics manager

   Once you've found the aquatics manager candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new aquatics manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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