Lifeguard/head lifeguard demographics and statistics in the US
Lifeguard/head lifeguard demographics research summary. Zippia estimates lifeguard/head lifeguard demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our lifeguard/head lifeguard estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about lifeguards/head lifeguards after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 56,962 lifeguards/head lifeguards currently employed in the United States.
- 44.7% of all lifeguards/head lifeguards are women, while 55.3% are men.
- The average lifeguard/head lifeguard age is 25 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of lifeguards/head lifeguards is White (67.9%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (13.9%), Unknown (7.6%) and Black or African American (5.9%).
- In 2022, women earned 99% of what men earned.
- 7% of all lifeguards/head lifeguards are LGBT.
- Lifeguards/head lifeguards are 47% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to government companies.
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Lifeguard/head lifeguard demographics by:
Lifeguard/head lifeguard gender statistics
44.7% of lifeguards/head lifeguards are women and 55.3% of lifeguards/head lifeguards are men.
- Male, 55.3%
- Female, 44.7%
Lifeguard/head lifeguard gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 55.3% |
| Female | 44.7% |
Lifeguard/head lifeguard gender pay gap
Women earn 99¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$28,053
Female income
$27,808
Lifeguard/head lifeguard gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in lifeguard/head lifeguard positions over time. Currently, 44.7% of lifeguards/head lifeguards are female.
Lifeguard/head lifeguard gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 44.07% | 55.93% |
| 2011 | 44.04% | 55.96% |
| 2012 | 39.49% | 60.51% |
| 2013 | 43.33% | 56.67% |
| 2014 | 44.84% | 55.16% |
| 2015 | 50.25% | 49.75% |
| 2016 | 51.40% | 48.60% |
| 2017 | 49.01% | 50.99% |
| 2018 | 50.18% | 49.82% |
| 2019 | 54.59% | 45.41% |
| 2020 | 57.82% | 42.18% |
| 2021 | 55.27% | 44.73% |
Lifeguard/head lifeguard related jobs gender ratio
We compared lifeguards/head lifeguards with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, rescue boat operator and bodyguard have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Playground Monitor | 18% | 82% |
| School Crossing Guard | 21% | 79% |
| Crossing Guard | 23% | 77% |
| Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard | 55% | 45% |
| Bouncer | 94% | 6% |
| Bodyguard | 96% | 4% |
| Rescue Boat Operator | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Lifeguard/head lifeguard demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among lifeguards/head lifeguards is White, which makes up 67.9% of all lifeguards/head lifeguards. Comparatively, 13.9% of lifeguards/head lifeguards are Hispanic or Latino and 7.6% of lifeguards/head lifeguards are Unknown.
- White, 67.9%
- Hispanic or Latino, 13.9%
- Unknown, 7.6%
- Black or African American, 5.9%
- Asian, 4.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
Lifeguard/head lifeguard race
| Lifeguard/head lifeguard race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 67.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 13.9% |
| Unknown | 7.6% |
| Black or African American | 5.9% |
| Asian | 4.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.3% |
Lifeguard/head lifeguard race and ethnicity over time
See how lifeguard/head lifeguard racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Lifeguard/head lifeguard race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 75.68% | 6.83% | 2.85% | 12.13% |
| 2011 | 74.56% | 7.56% | 2.65% | 12.33% |
| 2012 | 75.40% | 7.06% | 1.99% | 12.26% |
| 2013 | 73.61% | 7.21% | 2.65% | 12.90% |
| 2014 | 74.00% | 6.69% | 3.49% | 12.26% |
| 2015 | 74.04% | 6.31% | 3.14% | 13.15% |
| 2016 | 74.14% | 5.87% | 3.32% | 12.47% |
| 2017 | 72.32% | 6.33% | 3.58% | 14.03% |
| 2018 | 71.27% | 5.86% | 4.32% | 14.12% |
| 2019 | 72.07% | 5.86% | 3.55% | 13.79% |
| 2020 | 67.40% | 6.40% | 4.37% | 14.83% |
| 2021 | 67.87% | 5.87% | 4.37% | 13.93% |
Lifeguard/head lifeguard wage gap by race
According to our data, hispanic or latino lifeguards/head lifeguards have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american lifeguards/head lifeguards have the lowest average salary at $26,968.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $27,791 |
| White | $28,559 |
| Black or African American | $26,968 |
| Asian | $28,266 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $28,718 |
Average lifeguard/head lifeguard age
See how the average age of lifeguards/head lifeguards varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Lifeguard/head lifeguard age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 21.5 | 20 |
| White | 21 | 20 |
| Asian | 25 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 21 | 20 |
Lifeguard/head lifeguard age breakdown
The average age of lifeguards/head lifeguards is 20-30 years years old, representing 36% of the lifeguard/head lifeguard population.
Lifeguard/head lifeguard age breakdown
| Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 12% |
| 30-40 years | 14% |
| 20-30 years | 36% |
Lifeguard/head lifeguard educational attainment
The most common degree for lifeguards/head lifeguards is bachelor's degree, with 73% of lifeguards/head lifeguards earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 12% and associate degree degree at 10%.
- Bachelor's, 73%
- Associate, 12%
- High School Diploma, 10%
- Master's, 4%
- Other Degrees, 1%
Lifeguards/head lifeguards by degree level
| Lifeguard/head lifeguard degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 73% |
| Associate | 12% |
| High School Diploma | 10% |
| Master's | 4% |
| Other Degrees | 1% |
Lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs you might like
Lifeguard/head lifeguard wage gap by degree level
According to the data, lifeguards/head lifeguards with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $29,105 annually. With a Associate degree, lifeguards/head lifeguards earn a median annual income of $27,883 compared to $27,391 for lifeguards/head lifeguards with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $27,391 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $29,105 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $27,883 |
Lifeguard/head lifeguard employment statistics
Most lifeguards/head lifeguards work for a private in the hospitality industry.
Company size where lifeguards/head lifeguards work
Below, you can see the size of companies where lifeguards/head lifeguards work.
Lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 9% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 28% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 31% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 19% |
| > 10,000 employees | 5% |
Lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs by company type
Employees with the lifeguard/head lifeguard job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most lifeguards/head lifeguards prefer to work at private companies over government companies.
Lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 20% |
| Public | 3% |
| Private | 47% |
| Government | 31% |
Lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs by industry
The most common industries for lifeguards/head lifeguards are hospitality, government and education.
Lifeguard/head lifeguard industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Hospitality | 25% |
| Government | 24% |
| Education | 16% |
| Non Profits | 9% |
| Health Care | 6% |
| Professional | 3% |
| Manufacturing | 3% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
| Technology | 1% |
Lifeguard/head lifeguard turnover and employment statistics
Lifeguard/head lifeguard unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for lifeguards/head lifeguards between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Lifeguard/head lifeguard unemployment rate by year
| Year | Lifeguard/head 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% |
Average lifeguard/head lifeguard tenure
The average lifeguard/head lifeguard stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 6,175 lifeguards/head lifeguards resumes in Zippia's database.
Lifeguard/head lifeguard tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 22% |
| 1-2 years | 30% |
| 3-4 years | 23% |
| 5-7 years | 16% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 5% |
Lifeguard/head lifeguard LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of lifeguards/head lifeguards that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Site Crossing Guard | 3.84% | 50,239 |
| Private Security Officer | 6.29% | 114,851 |
| Loss Prevention Associate | 7.17% | 82,313 |
| Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard | 7.20% | - |
| Bail Agent | 8.27% | 26,129 |
| Security Screener | 15.51% | 45,041 |
Similar lifeguard/head lifeguard jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Site Crossing Guard | 3.84% | 50,239 |
| Private Security Officer | 6.29% | 114,851 |
| Loss Prevention Associate | 7.17% | 82,313 |
| Bail Agent | 8.27% | 26,129 |
| Security Screener | 15.51% | 45,041 |
Foreign languages spoken by lifeguards/head lifeguards
The most common foreign language among lifeguards/head lifeguards is Spanish at 59.2%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 11.6% and German is the third-most popular at 8.8%.
- Spanish, 59.2%
- French, 11.6%
- German, 8.8%
- Russian, 3.6%
- Italian, 3.2%
- Other, 13.6%
Lifeguard/head lifeguard languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 59.2% |
| French | 11.6% |
| German | 8.8% |
| Russian | 3.6% |
| Italian | 3.2% |
| Other | 13.6% |
