Research Summary. Using a database of 30 million profiles, Zippia estimates demographics and statistics for certified lifeguards in the United States. Our estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- There are over 53,734 certified lifeguards currently employed in the United States.
- 50.3% of all certified lifeguards are women, while 49.7% are men.
- The average age of an employed certified lifeguard is 25 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of certified lifeguards is White (68.1%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (13.8%), Unknown (7.7%) and Black or African American (5.8%).
- In 2021, women earned 99% of what men earned.
- 7% of all certified lifeguards are LGBT.
- Certified lifeguards are 46% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to government companies.
Certified Lifeguard Statistics By Gender
50.3% of certified lifeguards are women and 49.7% of certified lifeguards are men.
- Female, 50.3%
- Male, 49.7%
Certified Lifeguards By Gender
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 50.3% |
| Male | 49.7% |
Gender Pay Gap For Certified Lifeguard
Women Earn 99¢ For Every $1 Earned By Men
Certified Lifeguard Gender Over Time
This data shows how men and women predominate in the certified lifeguard position over time.
Certified Lifeguard Gender By Year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 38.63% | 61.37% |
| 2011 | 38.60% | 61.40% |
| 2012 | 34.27% | 65.73% |
| 2013 | 37.92% | 62.08% |
| 2014 | 39.37% | 60.63% |
| 2015 | 44.65% | 55.35% |
| 2016 | 45.79% | 54.21% |
| 2017 | 43.43% | 56.57% |
| 2018 | 44.58% | 55.42% |
| 2019 | 48.98% | 51.02% |
| 2020 | 52.26% | 47.74% |
| 2021 | 49.67% | 50.33% |
Certified Lifeguard Male to Female Ratio
We compared this job title with other job titles to see how gender percentages varied. As you can see, rescue boat operator and bodyguard have the biggest difference in gender.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Playground Monitor | 18% | 82% |
| School Crossing Guard | 21% | 79% |
| Crossing Guard | 23% | 77% |
| Certified Lifeguard | 50% | 50% |
| Bouncer | 94% | 6% |
| Bodyguard | 96% | 4% |
| Rescue Boat Operator | 98% | 2% |
Certified Lifeguard Statistics By Race
The most common ethnicity among certified lifeguards is White, which makes up 68.1% of all certified lifeguards. Comparatively, there are 13.8% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and 7.7% of the Unknown ethnicity.
- White, 68.1%
- Hispanic or Latino, 13.8%
- Unknown, 7.7%
- Black or African American, 5.8%
- Asian, 4.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
Certified Lifeguard Race
| Certified Lifeguard Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 68.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 13.8% |
| Unknown | 7.7% |
| Black or African American | 5.8% |
| Asian | 4.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.3% |
Certified Lifeguard Race And Ethnicity Over Time
Using the Census Bureau data, we found out how the percentage of each ethnic category trended between 2010-2019 among certified lifeguards.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Certified Lifeguard Race By Year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 75.94% | 6.76% | 2.83% | 11.95% |
| 2011 | 74.82% | 7.49% | 2.63% | 12.16% |
| 2012 | 75.66% | 6.99% | 1.96% | 12.09% |
| 2013 | 73.87% | 7.14% | 2.63% | 12.73% |
| 2014 | 74.26% | 6.62% | 3.47% | 12.08% |
| 2015 | 74.30% | 6.24% | 3.12% | 12.98% |
| 2016 | 74.40% | 5.80% | 3.30% | 12.30% |
| 2017 | 72.58% | 6.26% | 3.56% | 13.86% |
| 2018 | 71.53% | 5.79% | 4.30% | 13.94% |
| 2019 | 72.33% | 5.79% | 3.53% | 13.61% |
| 2020 | 67.66% | 6.33% | 4.35% | 14.66% |
| 2021 | 68.13% | 5.80% | 4.34% | 13.76% |
Certified Lifeguard Wage Gap By Race
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $27,863 |
| White | $28,636 |
| Black or African American | $27,035 |
| Asian | $28,342 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $28,796 |
Average Age of a Certified Lifeguard
We determined the average age of certified lifeguards based on ethnicity and gender.
Certified Lifeguard Age By Race
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 21.5 | 20 |
| White | 21 | 20 |
| Asian | 25 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 21 | 20 |
Certified Lifeguard Age Breakdown
This chart breaks down the ages of certified lifeguard employees. Interestingly enough, the average age of certified lifeguards is 20-30 years old, which represents 36% of the population.
Certified Lifeguard Age
| Certified Lifeguard Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 12% |
| 30-40 years | 14% |
| 20-30 years | 36% |
Types of Certified Lifeguard Degree Levels
The most common degree for certified lifeguards is bachelor's degree 64% of certified lifeguards earn that degree. A close second is high school diploma with 17% and rounding it off is associate degree with 12%.
- Bachelors, 64%
- High School Diploma, 17%
- Associate, 12%
- Masters, 3%
- Other Degrees, 4%
Certified Lifeguards By Education
| Certified Lifeguard Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelors | 64% |
| High School Diploma | 17% |
| Associate | 12% |
| Masters | 3% |
| Other Degrees | 4% |
Certified Lifeguard Jobs You Might Like
Certified Lifeguard Wage Gap By Education
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $27,460 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $29,186 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $27,956 |
Certified Lifeguard Employment Statistics
This section highlights information about where certified lifeguards work. We found most certified lifeguards work for a private company. In addition, the industry that employs the most certified lifeguards is the hospitality industry.
Company Size
We created this chart to show you the average size of companies that typically hire certified lifeguards.
Certified Lifeguard Jobs By Employer Size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 9% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 20% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 30% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 10% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 25% |
| > 10,000 employees | 6% |
The Types Of Companies Certified Lifeguard Work In
Employees with the certified lifeguard job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most certified lifeguards prefer to work at private companies over government companies.
Certified Lifeguard Jobs By Sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 18% |
| Public | 7% |
| Private | 46% |
| Government | 28% |
Top Industries Hiring Certified Lifeguards
Just based on the number of employees within each industry, we were able to determine the most common industries that employ certified lifeguards. Those industries include hospitality, government and education.
Certified Lifeguard Industry Statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Hospitality | 24% |
| Government | 21% |
| Education | 15% |
| Non Profits | 9% |
| Health Care | 9% |
| Professional | 4% |
| Media | 3% |
| Manufacturing | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Fortune 500 | 2% |
| Retail | 2% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Technology | 1% |
Certified Lifeguard Turnover And Employment Statistics
Certified Lifeguard Unemployment Rate Over Time
The Bureau of Labor Statistics came in clutch when it came down to figuring out how the unemployment rate has changed over time. Between 2008 and 2018, this is how the number of certified lifeguards changed.
- Unemployment rate
Certified Lifeguard Unemployment Rate By Year
| Year | Certified Lifeguard Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 15.01% |
| 2011 | 13.89% |
| 2012 | 12.79% |
| 2013 | 11.41% |
| 2014 | 11.93% |
| 2015 | 12.03% |
| 2016 | 10.37% |
| 2017 | 12.84% |
| 2018 | 9.60% |
| 2019 | 8.38% |
| 2020 | 15.70% |
| 2021 | 9.76% |
The Average Number of Years That Certified Lifeguard Stay in a Job
By looking over 1,947 certified lifeguards resumes, we figured out that the average certified lifeguard enjoys staying at their job for Less than 1 year for a percentage of 36%.
Certified Lifeguard Tenure
| Number or Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 36% |
| 1-2 years | 32% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 11% |
| 8-10 years | 3% |
| 11+ years | 4% |
Comparing The LGBT Ratio of Certified Lifeguards with Other Job Titles
After finding the gender ratio, we wondered if the percentages of LGBT persons were different as well. Using the data below, you can see how other job titles compare to certified lifeguards.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Flagger | 3.84% | 6,597 |
| Commissioned Officer | 6.29% | 69,166 |
| Playground Monitor | 7.17% | 4,816 |
| Certified Lifeguard | 7.20% | - |
| Bail Bond Agent | 8.27% | 26,182 |
| Airport Screener | 15.51% | 2,474 |
Certified Lifeguard LGBT Demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Flagger | 3.84% | 6,597 |
| Commissioned Officer | 6.29% | 69,166 |
| Playground Monitor | 7.17% | 4,816 |
| Bail Bond Agent | 8.27% | 26,182 |
| Airport Screener | 15.51% | 2,474 |
Foreign Languages Spoken By Certified Lifeguards
The most common foreign language among certified lifeguards is Spanish at 57.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 14.0% and German is the third-most popular at 4.7%.
- Spanish, 57.0%
- French, 14.0%
- German, 4.7%
- Arabic, 4.7%
- Italian, 2.3%
- Other, 17.3%
Certified Lifeguard Languages Spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 57.0% |
| French | 14.0% |
| German | 4.7% |
| Arabic | 4.7% |
| Italian | 2.3% |
| Other | 17.3% |
