Best states for a lifeguard/head lifeguard

Q: What is the best state for lifeguards/head lifeguards?

The best state to be a lifeguard/head lifeguard is Massachusetts based on lifeguard/head lifeguard salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for lifeguards/head lifeguards?

The highest paying state for lifeguards/head lifeguards is Indiana based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for lifeguards/head lifeguards?

The worst state for lifeguards/head lifeguards is Indiana, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for lifeguards/head lifeguards? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs.

Massachusetts is the best state for jobs for lifeguards/head lifeguards, and Indiana is the worst. The most common pay in Massachusetts is $34,762, while the median pay in Indiana is $19,974.We found that Massachusetts is the best state for lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs, whereas Indiana is the worst.

10 best states for lifeguards/head lifeguards in 2025

1. Massachusetts
Total lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs: 210
Average annual salary: $34,762
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Location Quotient:
1.56
Lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs in Massachusetts
2. Maine
Total lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs: 23
Average annual salary: $35,148
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
1.19
Lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs in Maine
3. Washington
Total lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs: 113
Average annual salary: $38,536
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Location Quotient:
1.06
Lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs in Washington
4. California
Total lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs: 526
Average annual salary: $36,554
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
1.23
Lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs in California
5. Connecticut
Total lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs: 79
Average annual salary: $32,809
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Location Quotient:
1.63
Lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs in Connecticut
6. New Hampshire
Total lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs: 38
Average annual salary: $32,101
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Location Quotient:
1.49
Lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs in New Hampshire
7. Oregon
Total lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs: 59
Average annual salary: $33,575
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
0.97
Lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs in Oregon
8. New York
Total lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs: 368
Average annual salary: $32,450
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Location Quotient:
1.96
Lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs in New York
9. Rhode Island
Total lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs: 37
Average annual salary: $28,671
Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Location Quotient:
2.08
Lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs in Rhode Island
10. Idaho
Total lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs: 13
Average annual salary: $33,292
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
0.54
Lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs in Idaho

Lifeguard/head lifeguard jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a lifeguard/head lifeguard

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a lifeguard/head lifeguard

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Massachusetts	$34,762	$27,000	6,859,819	210
2	Maine	$35,148	$28,000	1,335,907	23
3	Washington	$38,536	$30,000	7,405,743	113
4	California	$36,554	$29,000	39,536,653	526
5	Connecticut	$32,809	$26,000	3,588,184	79
6	New Hampshire	$32,101	$25,000	1,342,795	38
7	Oregon	$33,575	$26,000	4,142,776	59
8	New York	$32,450	$25,000	19,849,399	368
9	Rhode Island	$28,671	$23,000	1,059,639	37
10	Idaho	$33,292	$26,000	1,716,943	13
11	North Dakota	$33,649	$26,000	755,393	5
12	Vermont	$33,102	$26,000	623,657	6
13	Alaska	$28,736	$24,000	739,795	16
14	New Jersey	$30,900	$24,000	9,005,644	113
15	Kentucky	$27,980	$21,000	4,454,189	46
16	Minnesota	$29,210	$23,000	5,576,606	68
17	Arizona	$28,075	$22,000	7,016,270	70
18	Delaware	$26,922	$21,000	961,939	26
19	Colorado	$27,647	$21,000	5,607,154	108
20	Nevada	$27,321	$21,000	2,998,039	28
21	West Virginia	$28,725	$22,000	1,815,857	3
22	New Mexico	$26,710	$21,000	2,088,070	31
23	Florida	$28,122	$21,000	20,984,400	171
24	Maryland	$28,534	$22,000	6,052,177	96
25	Michigan	$27,073	$21,000	9,962,311	64
26	Pennsylvania	$26,348	$20,000	12,805,537	175
27	Wisconsin	$27,412	$21,000	5,795,483	38
28	Montana	$25,428	$20,000	1,050,493	25
29	Utah	$26,271	$20,000	3,101,833	44
30	Wyoming	$26,454	$20,000	579,315	5
31	South Carolina	$25,242	$19,000	5,024,369	77
32	Hawaii	$29,591	$26,000	1,427,538	7
33	Arkansas	$25,674	$20,000	3,004,279	23
34	Mississippi	$24,825	$19,000	2,984,100	33
35	Illinois	$25,945	$20,000	12,802,023	152
36	Tennessee	$23,244	$18,000	6,715,984	130
37	Georgia	$25,674	$20,000	10,429,379	121
38	Texas	$24,984	$19,000	28,304,596	329
39	Virginia	$25,831	$20,000	8,470,020	105
40	Nebraska	$25,450	$20,000	1,920,076	16
41	North Carolina	$24,346	$19,000	10,273,419	133
42	District of Columbia	$27,090	$21,000	693,972	10
43	South Dakota	$25,099	$19,000	869,666	8
44	Kansas	$23,797	$18,000	2,913,123	40
45	Missouri	$23,295	$18,000	6,113,532	83
46	Iowa	$21,768	$17,000	3,145,711	62
47	Louisiana	$24,180	$18,000	4,684,333	30
48	Alabama	$23,567	$18,000	4,874,747	18
49	Ohio	$21,174	$16,000	11,658,609	110
50	Oklahoma	$21,779	$17,000	3,930,864	29
51	Indiana	$19,974	$15,000	6,666,818	58

Highest paying states for lifeguards/head lifeguards

Rank	State	Avg. Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Salary
1	Massachusetts	$34,762
2	Maine	$35,148
3	Washington	$38,536
4	California	$36,554
5	Connecticut	$32,809
6	New Hampshire	$32,101
7	Oregon	$33,575
8	New York	$32,450
9	Rhode Island	$28,671
10	Idaho	$33,292
11	North Dakota	$33,649
12	Vermont	$33,102
13	Alaska	$28,736
14	New Jersey	$30,900
15	Kentucky	$27,980
16	Minnesota	$29,210
17	Arizona	$28,075
18	Delaware	$26,922
19	Colorado	$27,647
20	Nevada	$27,321
21	West Virginia	$28,725
22	New Mexico	$26,710
23	Florida	$28,122
24	Maryland	$28,534
25	Michigan	$27,073
26	Pennsylvania	$26,348
27	Wisconsin	$27,412
28	Montana	$25,428
29	Utah	$26,271
30	Wyoming	$26,454
31	South Carolina	$25,242
32	Hawaii	$29,591
33	Arkansas	$25,674
34	Mississippi	$24,825
35	Illinois	$25,945
36	Tennessee	$23,244
37	Georgia	$25,674
38	Texas	$24,984
39	Virginia	$25,831
40	Nebraska	$25,450
41	North Carolina	$24,346
42	District of Columbia	$27,090
43	South Dakota	$25,099
44	Kansas	$23,797
45	Missouri	$23,295
46	Iowa	$21,768
47	Louisiana	$24,180
48	Alabama	$23,567
49	Ohio	$21,174
50	Oklahoma	$21,779
51	Indiana	$19,974

Lifeguard/head lifeguard best states FAQs

What is the best state for lifeguards/head lifeguards?

What is the highest paying state for lifeguards/head lifeguards?

What is the worst state for lifeguards/head lifeguards?

Have more questions? See all answers to common protective service questions.

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Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard
Best states for Lifeguards/Head Lifeguards

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs:	210
Average annual salary:	$34,762
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$27,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$43,000
Location Quotient:	1.56

Best states for a lifeguard/head lifeguard

10 best states for lifeguards/head lifeguards in 2025

1. Massachusetts

2. Maine

3. Washington

4. California

5. Connecticut

6. New Hampshire

7. Oregon

8. New York

9. Rhode Island

10. Idaho