Research Summary. Using a database of 30 million profiles, Zippia estimates demographics and statistics for lifeguards/head 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 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 age of an employed lifeguard/head lifeguard 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 2021, 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.

Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Statistics By Gender

44.7% of lifeguards/head lifeguards are women and 55.3% of lifeguards/head lifeguards are men.

  • Male, 55.3%
  • Female, 44.7%

Lifeguards/Head Lifeguards By Gender

GenderPercentages
Male55.3%
Female44.7%

Gender Pay Gap For Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard

Women Earn 99ยข For Every $1 Earned By Men

male-income
Male Income
$28,053
female-income
Female Income
$27,808

Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Gender Over Time

This data shows how men and women predominate in the lifeguard/head lifeguard position over time.

Male
Female
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021

Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Gender By Year

YearMaleFemale
201044.07%55.93%
201144.04%55.96%
201239.49%60.51%
201343.33%56.67%
201444.84%55.16%
201550.25%49.75%
201651.40%48.60%
201749.01%50.99%
201850.18%49.82%
201954.59%45.41%
202057.82%42.18%
202155.27%44.73%

Lifeguard/Head 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 TitleMaleFemale
Playground Monitor18%82%
School Crossing Guard21%79%
Crossing Guard23%77%
Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard55%45%
Bouncer94%6%
Bodyguard96%4%
Rescue Boat Operator98%2%

Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Statistics By Race

The most common ethnicity among lifeguards/head lifeguards is White, which makes up 67.9% of all lifeguards/head lifeguards. Comparatively, there are 13.9% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and 7.6% of the Unknown ethnicity.

  • 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 RacePercentages
White67.9%
Hispanic or Latino13.9%
Unknown7.6%
Black or African American5.9%
Asian4.4%
American Indian and Alaska Native0.3%

Lifeguard/Head 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 lifeguards/head lifeguards.

  • White
  • Asian
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Black or African American

Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Race By Year

YearWhiteBlack or African AmericanAsianHispanic or Latino
201075.68%6.83%2.85%12.13%
201174.56%7.56%2.65%12.33%
201275.40%7.06%1.99%12.26%
201373.61%7.21%2.65%12.90%
201474.00%6.69%3.49%12.26%
201574.04%6.31%3.14%13.15%
201674.14%5.87%3.32%12.47%
201772.32%6.33%3.58%14.03%
201871.27%5.86%4.32%14.12%
201972.07%5.86%3.55%13.79%
202067.40%6.40%4.37%14.83%
202167.87%5.87%4.37%13.93%

Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Wage Gap By Race

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.
$29,000
$28,000
$27,000
$26,000
Unknown
White
Black or African American
Asian
Hispanic or Latino
EthnicitySalary
Unknown$27,791
White$28,559
Black or African American$26,968
Asian$28,266
Hispanic or Latino$28,718

Average Age of a Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard

We determined the average age of lifeguards/head lifeguards based on ethnicity and gender.

Male
Female

Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Age By Race

RaceMale AgeFemale Age
Unknown21.520
White2120
Asian25
Hispanic or Latino2120

Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Age Breakdown

This chart breaks down the ages of lifeguard/head lifeguard employees. Interestingly enough, the average age of lifeguards/head lifeguards is 20-30 years old, which represents 36% of the population.

40+ years

30-40 years

20-30 years


Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Age

Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard YearsPercentages
40+ years12%
30-40 years14%
20-30 years36%

Types of Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Degree Levels

The most common degree for lifeguards/head lifeguards is bachelor's degree 73% of lifeguards/head lifeguards earn that degree. A close second is associate degree with 12% and rounding it off is high school diploma with 10%.

  • Bachelors, 73%
  • Associate, 12%
  • High School Diploma, 10%
  • Masters, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 1%

Lifeguards/Head Lifeguards By Education

Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard DegreePercentages
Bachelors73%
Associate12%
High School Diploma10%
Masters4%
Other Degrees1%

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Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Wage Gap By Education

Lifeguards/head lifeguards with a Bachelors 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.
$30,000
$29,000
$28,000
$27,000
High School Diploma or Less
Bachelor's Degree
Some College/ Associate Degree
EducationSalary
High School Diploma or Less$27,391
Bachelor's Degree$29,105
Some College/ Associate Degree$27,883

Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Employment Statistics

This section highlights information about where lifeguards/head lifeguards work. We found most lifeguards/head lifeguards work for a private company. In addition, the industry that employs the most lifeguards/head lifeguards is the hospitality industry.

Company Size

We created this chart to show you the average size of companies that typically hire lifeguards/head lifeguards.

< 50 employees

50 - 100 employees

100 - 500 employees

500 - 1,000 employees

1,000 - 10,000 employees

> 10,000

Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Jobs By Employer Size

Company SizePercentages
< 50 employees9%
50 - 100 employees28%
100 - 500 employees31%
500 - 1,000 employees8%
1,000 - 10,000 employees19%
> 10,000 employees5%

The Types Of Companies Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Work In

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.

Education

Public

Private

Government

Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Jobs By Sector

Company TypePercentages
Education20%
Public3%
Private47%
Government31%

Top Industries Hiring Lifeguards/Head Lifeguards

Just based on the number of employees within each industry, we were able to determine the most common industries that employ lifeguards/head lifeguards. Those industries include hospitality, government and education.

Hospitality

Government

Education

Non Profits

Health Care

Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Turnover And Employment Statistics

Lifeguard/Head 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 lifeguards/head lifeguards changed.

  • Unemployment rate

Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Unemployment Rate By Year

YearLifeguard/Head Lifeguard Unemployment Rate
201015.01%
201113.89%
201212.79%
201311.41%
201411.93%
201512.03%
201610.37%
201712.84%
20189.60%
20198.38%
202015.70%
20219.76%

The Average Number of Years That Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Stay in a Job

By looking over 6,175 lifeguards/head lifeguards resumes, we figured out that the average lifeguard/head lifeguard enjoys staying at their job for 1-2 years for a percentage of 30%.

Less than one year

1-2 years

3-4 years

5-7 years

8-10 years

11+ years

Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Tenure

Number or YearsPercentages
Less than 1 year22%
1-2 years30%
3-4 years23%
5-7 years16%
8-10 years4%
11+ years5%

Comparing The LGBT Ratio of Lifeguard/Head 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 lifeguards/head lifeguards.

Job TitleLGBTJob Openings
Construction Site Crossing Guard3.84%50,239
Private Security Officer6.29%114,851
Loss Prevention Associate7.17%82,313
Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard7.20%-
Bail Agent8.27%26,129
Security Screener15.51%45,041

Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard LGBT Demographics

ProfessionPercentages of LGBT Job Openings
Construction Site Crossing Guard3.84%50,239
Private Security Officer6.29%114,851
Loss Prevention Associate7.17%82,313
Bail Agent8.27%26,129
Security Screener15.51%45,041

Foreign Languages Spoken By Lifeguard/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 LanguagePercentages
Spanish59.2%
French11.6%
German8.8%
Russian3.6%
Italian3.2%
Other13.6%

Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Jobs

Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Heatmaps

Where Do Lifeguards/Head Lifeguards Earn The Most?

Lifeguards/head lifeguards earn the most in Washington, where the average lifeguard/head lifeguard salary is $38,536. The map here shows where lifeguards/head lifeguards earn the highest salaries in the U.S. The darker areas across the 50 states highlight the highest salaries.

Average Salary

Which State Has The Most Lifeguards/Head Lifeguards?

By looking through more than 6,175 resumes, we found that the most popular places for lifeguards/head lifeguards are New York, NY and Austin, TX.

Number of Lifeguards/Head Lifeguards

Number Of Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Jobs By State

RankStateNumber of JobsAverage Salary
1California526$36,554
2New York368$32,450
3Texas329$24,984
4Massachusetts210$34,762
5Pennsylvania175$26,348
6Florida171$28,122
7Illinois152$25,945
8North Carolina133$24,346
9Tennessee130$23,244
10Georgia121$25,674
11Washington113$38,536
12New Jersey113$30,900
13Ohio110$21,174
14Colorado108$27,647
15Virginia105$25,831
16Maryland96$28,534
17Missouri83$23,295
18Connecticut79$32,809
19South Carolina77$25,242
20Arizona70$28,075
21Minnesota68$29,210
22Michigan64$27,073
23Iowa62$21,768
24Oregon59$33,575
25Indiana58$19,974
26Kentucky46$27,980
27Utah44$26,271
28Kansas40$23,797
29New Hampshire38$32,101
30Wisconsin38$27,412
31Rhode Island37$28,671
32Mississippi33$24,825
33New Mexico31$26,710
34Louisiana30$24,180
35Oklahoma29$21,779
36Nevada28$27,321
37Delaware26$26,922
38Montana25$25,428
39Maine23$35,148
40Arkansas23$25,674
41Alabama18$23,567
42Alaska16$28,736
43Nebraska16$25,450
44Idaho13$33,292
45District of Columbia10$27,090
46South Dakota8$25,099
47Hawaii7$29,591
48Vermont6$33,102
49North Dakota5$33,649
50Wyoming5$26,454
51West Virginia3$28,725

Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard Demographics FAQs

How Many Lifeguard/head Lifeguard Are There In The Us?

There are over 56,962 Lifeguards/Head Lifeguards in the United States.

What Percentage Of Lifeguards/head Lifeguards Are Black?

5.9% of Lifeguards/Head Lifeguards are Black or African American

What Race Are Most Lifeguards/head Lifeguards?

Most a are White, with 67.9% of Lifeguards/Head Lifeguards belonging to this ethnicity. 13.9% of Lifeguards/Head Lifeguards are Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% of Lifeguards/Head Lifeguards are Unknown, 5.9% of Lifeguards/Head Lifeguards are Black or African American, 4.4% of Lifeguards/Head Lifeguards are Asian, and 0.3% of Lifeguards/Head Lifeguards are American Indian and Alaska Native

Are Lifeguard/head Lifeguard Jobs Male - Dominated?

Yes, Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard jobs are male - dominated. 55% of Lifeguards/Head Lifeguards are male, and 44% are female, so there are more male Lifeguards/Head Lifeguards than female Lifeguards/Head Lifeguards in the United States.

How Old Is The Average Lifeguard/head Lifeguard?

The average Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard is 26 years old. 12% of Lifeguards/Head Lifeguards are 40+ years old or older, 14% are between the ages of 30-40 years, and 36% are between 20-30 years old

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