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How to hire a life guard

Life guard hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring life guards in the United States:

  • There are a total of 10,465 life guards in the US, and there are currently 29,752 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a life guard is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per life guard on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Orlando, FL, has the highest demand for life guards, with 4 job openings.

How to hire a life guard, step by step

To hire a life guard, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a life guard:

Here's a step-by-step life guard hiring guide:

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

    Before you post your life guard 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 a life guard 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?

    Hiring the perfect life guard 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 life guard salaries for various positions.

    Type of Life GuardDescriptionHourly rate
    Life Guard$11-16
    Swim InstructorAs the name entails, swim instructors teach both children and adults how to swim. They help people develop their swimming ability through proper swimming techniques... Show more$8-16
    Lifeguard/Swim InstructorThe primary job of lifeguards and swimming instructors is to keep an eye and teach swimmers at both private and public beaches, pools, private resorts, public parks, and summer camps. They implement local laws and regulations of the facility and provide help to swimmers who are in need... Show more$10-16
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • CPR
    • First-Aid
    • Emergency Situations
    • Pool Deck
    • Safety Hazards
    • Rescue Techniques
    • Medical Services
    • Safety Rules
    • Guest Safety
    • Pool Rules
    • Water Safety
    • Pool Maintenance
    • Resuscitation
    • In-Service Training
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Examine any injuries patrons acquire using the facility and apply first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary.
    • Advance because of performance, knowledge and leadership.
    • Rescue any drowning victims out of water, call for emergency assistance and perform first-aid resuscitative measures when necessary.
    • Learned CPR and necessary skills to help in the advent of an emergency, observe pool to make sure everyone are safe
    • Participate in ongoing CPR and a education and maintain proficiency in preparation for emergencies.
    • Maintain general appearance and cleanliness of assign area and perform general housekeeping of assign area; maintain water safety equipment.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your life guard job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A life guard salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, life guards' average salary in indiana is 49% less than in washington.
    • Seniority. Entry-level life guards earn 34% less than senior-level life guards.
    • Certifications. A life guard 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 a life guard's salary.

    Average life guard salary

    $13.87hourly

    $28,842 yearly

    Entry-level life guard salary
    $23,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 21, 2026
  4. Writing a life guard job description

    A good life guard job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a life guard job description:

    Life guard job description example

    Requirements:

    • Ability to work with children, no formal swim experience required, full training provided
    • Must be willing to work in the water for 3-4 hours on some shifts
    • Must be able to work 1 weekend day (Saturday or Sunday- 4 hour shift) and some evenings (until 7:30)
    • Excellent interpersonal communication and organizational skills
    • MUST WANT TO HAVE FUN!
    • Ellis Lifeguard Certification required within the first 90 days of hire. (We provide In-House certification)
    • Age 15+


    At Goldfish Mundelein - We consider 20 hours a week or more to be a full time employee that is eligible for full benefits. Full Time:

    • 20 Hours or more (up to 40 available)
    • Set work schedule, with changes quarterly to accommodate for class schedules if needed
    • Leadership opportunities
    • BCBS PPO & HSA Health Insurance with options for Dental & Vision
    • Accrued PTO from the Start
    • Valuable work experience
    • Increased social opportunities
    • Future references/referrals
    • $16/hr with regular increases and bonuses
    • Paid training
    • Weekly pay day- start this week, get paid next week!
    • Free lessons for siblings or children

    Part Time:

    • Set work schedule, with changes quarterly to accommodate for class schedules if needed
    • Accrued PTO from the Start
    • Leadership opportunities
    • Valuable work experience
    • Increased social opportunities
    • Future references/referrals
    • $13-15/hr with regular increases and bonuses
    • Paid training
    • Weekly pay day- start this week, get paid next week!
    • Free lessons for siblings or children

    We have a mission to teach kids how to swim and be safer, in and around the water, while making their experience GOLDEN! We desire to maintain a “get it mentality, a “want it” attitude and the “capacity” to learn and grow professionally and personally. If this mission sounds like something you could get behind, we want to hear from you!!

    Goldfish Swim School Core Values: • We go above and beyond with every detail to create a GOLDEN EXPERIENCE! • We believe in nurturing a culture that provides WOW! CUSTOMER SERVICE. • We do the right things, make the right decisions and treat people with INTEGRITY, COMPASSION, and TRUST. • We meet and exceed expectations, so you see EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS. • We make a big deal about life’s accomplishments by remembering to CELEBRATE!
    We change lives. We help children reach their goals. We wear flip flops. We work in a 90-degree pool and tropical environment! We love our employees and reward hard work with shout out awards, gift cards, Lunch/Dinners and fun social events! We offer paid training and shifts that are perfect for students or folks who want to grab extra hours without working late nights. Even better?... Due to the rapid growth of our school, advancement opportunities exist for the right candidate. At Goldfish, we are committed to keeping our team members safe while continuing to provide essential swim lessons during a pandemic. We go above and beyond health department requirements for Covid transmission prevention. Job Title: Swim Instructor/front desk Reports to: Deck Supervisor/Pool Operations Manager/AGM/GMFLSA Status: Non-ExemptSummary: Instructs students on water safety and proper swim techniques based on thorough knowledge of the Goldfish Swim School curriculum.Certificates and Licenses: Training available on site. Lifeguard, CPR/AED and First Aid certification required within 90 days of hire.Key Words: Kids, Children, Child Care, Education, Instruction, Instructor, Teacher, Daycare, Fun Job, Part Time, Growth, Swim, School, Work with Kids, Customer Service, Receptionist, Flexible, Engaging, Early Education, Fun, Leadership, Entry Level, After School JobGoldfish Swim School is a learn-to-swim facility for kids ages 4 months to 12 years. Our proven confidence building curriculum promotes a love of swimming and teaches children to be safer in and around the water. For additional information see goldfishswimschool.com NOTE: The information within this posting is not all-inclusive and may be subject to change. Employee to fulfill other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Employer.

    Each Goldfish Swim School is an independently owned and operated franchise. The respective Franchisee is the employer at each Goldfish Swim School location. Each franchisee can set their own wages, benefit programs and terms and conditions of employment, which may vary at each Goldfish Swim School location.

  5. Post your job

    To find life guards for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any life guards they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level life guards with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your life guard job on Zippia to find and recruit life guard candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit life guards, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    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 life guard

    Once you have selected a candidate for the life guard position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    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.

    To prepare for the new life guard first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  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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How much does it cost to hire a life guard?

Before you start to hire life guards, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire life guards pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

Life guards earn a median yearly salary is $28,842 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find life guards for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $11 and $16.

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