What is a Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard?
What Does a Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Do
When it comes to the most important skills required to be a lifeguard/head lifeguard, we found that a lot of resumes listed 22.5% of lifeguards/head lifeguards included first-aid, while 13.7% of resumes included customer service, and 10.2% of resumes included water safety. Hard skills like these are helpful to have when it comes to performing essential job responsibilities.
How To Become a Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard
If you're interested in becoming a lifeguard/head lifeguard, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 73.2% of lifeguards/head lifeguards have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 3.7% of lifeguards/head lifeguards have master's degrees. Even though most lifeguards/head lifeguards have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Career Paths
As you move along in your career, you may start taking on more responsibilities or notice that you've taken on a leadership role. Using our career map, a lifeguard/head lifeguard can determine their career goals through the career progression. For example, they could start out with a role such as substitute teacher, progress to a title such as teacher and then eventually end up with the title general manager.
Average Salary for a Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard
What Am I Worth?
Roles and Types of Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard
There are several types of lifeguard/head lifeguard, including:
Swim Instructor
Role:
As a rule, they require certain skills such as CPR and first aid and American Safety Instructor and Basic Swim Instructor certifications. They should have sound knowledge of proper swimming techniques and water safety, effective communication skills, and be passionate and enthusiastic.
A high school diploma or GED is enough, plus being an experienced swimmer, for example a retired professional swimmer. On average, they earn $24,852 per year, which translates to $11.95 per hour. Though generally, they earn anywhere between $18,000 and $35,000 a year.
- Average Salary: $25,815
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Ocean Lifeguard
Role:
These professionals need to be ready to move at a moment's notice; therefore, they are in great physical shape. Ocean lifeguards also require concentration to watch all the shimmers in the area all the time.
The daily routine of a lifeguard is highly variable. They may experience days with no emergencies and others in which a significant number of individuals need to be rescued. It's a critical job that requires focus and concentration. While it can be challenging, it's also rewarding.
To become an ocean lifeguard, you'll need excellent swimming skills, CPR knowledge, and a practical approach to life. There are no educational requirements to become an ocean lifeguard.
- Average Salary: $29,909
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
States With The Most Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Jobs
Mouse over a state to see the number of active lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs in each state. The darker areas on the map show where lifeguards/head lifeguards earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.
Number Of Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Jobs By State
| Rank | State | Number of Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 526 | $36,554 |
| 2 | New York | 368 | $32,450 |
| 3 | Texas | 329 | $24,984 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 210 | $34,762 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 175 | $26,348 |
| 6 | Florida | 171 | $28,122 |
| 7 | Illinois | 152 | $25,945 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 133 | $24,346 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 130 | $23,244 |
| 10 | Georgia | 121 | $25,674 |
| 11 | Washington | 113 | $38,536 |
| 12 | New Jersey | 113 | $30,900 |
| 13 | Ohio | 110 | $21,174 |
| 14 | Colorado | 108 | $27,647 |
| 15 | Virginia | 105 | $25,831 |
| 16 | Maryland | 96 | $28,534 |
| 17 | Missouri | 83 | $23,295 |
| 18 | Connecticut | 79 | $32,809 |
| 19 | South Carolina | 77 | $25,242 |
| 20 | Arizona | 70 | $28,075 |
| 21 | Minnesota | 68 | $29,210 |
| 22 | Michigan | 64 | $27,073 |
| 23 | Iowa | 62 | $21,768 |
| 24 | Oregon | 59 | $33,575 |
| 25 | Indiana | 58 | $19,974 |
| 26 | Kentucky | 46 | $27,980 |
| 27 | Utah | 44 | $26,271 |
| 28 | Kansas | 40 | $23,797 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | 38 | $32,101 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | 38 | $27,412 |
| 31 | Rhode Island | 37 | $28,671 |
| 32 | Mississippi | 33 | $24,825 |
| 33 | New Mexico | 31 | $26,710 |
| 34 | Louisiana | 30 | $24,180 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | 29 | $21,779 |
| 36 | Nevada | 28 | $27,321 |
| 37 | Delaware | 26 | $26,922 |
| 38 | Montana | 25 | $25,428 |
| 39 | Maine | 23 | $35,148 |
| 40 | Arkansas | 23 | $25,674 |
| 41 | Alabama | 18 | $23,567 |
| 42 | Alaska | 16 | $28,736 |
| 43 | Nebraska | 16 | $25,450 |
| 44 | Idaho | 13 | $33,292 |
| 45 | South Dakota | 8 | $25,099 |
| 46 | Hawaii | 7 | $29,591 |
| 47 | Vermont | 6 | $33,102 |
| 48 | North Dakota | 5 | $33,649 |
| 49 | Wyoming | 5 | $26,454 |
| 50 | West Virginia | 3 | $28,725 |
Choose From 10+ Customizable Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Demographics
Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Gender Distribution
After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- Among lifeguards/head lifeguards, 44.7% of them are women, while 55.3% are men.
- The most common race/ethnicity among lifeguards/head lifeguards is White, which makes up 67.9% of all lifeguards/head lifeguards.
- The most common foreign language among lifeguards/head lifeguards is Spanish at 59.2%.
Online Courses For Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard That You May Like
1. Customer Service Success: Take Your Skills to the Next Level
3-in-1 Customer Service Training: Levels 1, 2, 3 Improve Your Soft Communication Skills, Customer Support & Experience...
See More on Udemy2. ISO 22000. Food Safety Management System.
Learn about hazard identification and assessment, PRPs, Critical Control Points, and the requirements in ISO 22000:2018...
See More on Udemy3. Operations Management: Facilities Planning and Management
Operations Management Training Program (Course 8 of 8)...
See More on UdemyBest States For a Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard
Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a lifeguard/head lifeguard. The best states for people in this position are Washington, California, Maine, and Massachusetts. Lifeguards/head lifeguards make the most in Washington with an average salary of $38,536. Whereas in California and Maine, they would average $36,554 and $35,148, respectively. While lifeguards/head lifeguards would only make an average of $34,762 in Massachusetts, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
1. Massachusetts
$34,762
Avg. Salary
2. Maine
$35,148
Avg. Salary
3. Washington
$38,536
Avg. Salary
How Do Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Rate Their Jobs?
Top Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Employers
Most Common Employers For Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salt Lake County | $33,986 | $16.34 | 11 |
| 2 | City | $33,613 | $16.16 | 14 |
| 3 | Fairfax Water - Official | $32,589 | $15.67 | 11 |
| 4 | The Walt Disney Company | $30,861 | $14.84 | 12 |
| 5 | City of Houston | $30,640 | $14.73 | 17 |
| 6 | The Maplewood | $29,783 | $14.32 | 9 |
| 7 | Aquatic Bath | $28,214 | $13.56 | 11 |
| 8 | American Pool | $27,870 | $13.40 | 48 |
| 9 | American Red Cross | $27,404 | $13.18 | 9 |
| 10 | NVPools | $27,165 | $13.06 | 9 |