How to hire a lifeguard/head lifeguard

How to hire a lifeguard/head lifeguard, step by step

Here's a step-by-step lifeguard/head lifeguard hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a lifeguard/head lifeguard, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect lifeguard/head lifeguard 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of lifeguards/head lifeguards and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard	Description	Hourly rate
   Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard		$10-16
   Swim Instructor	As 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 Instructor	The 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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • First-Aid
   • Customer Service
   • Water Safety
   • Emergency Situations
   • Cleanliness
   • Aquatic Facility
   • In-Service Training
   • Pool Maintenance
   • Lifeguard Training
   • Safety Rules
   • Safety Regulations
   • Water Chemistry
   • Safety Standards
   • Resuscitation

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and trained15 lifeguards, which develop leadership skills, provide experience handling administrative issues.
   • Supervise pool maintenance, CPR, AED-PR, first-aid, record keeping, and customer service
   • Examine injured persons/administered first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary.
   • Examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation when necessary.
   • Obtain and maintain required certifications.
   • Maintain all first-aid and medical emergency equipment.

   More lifeguard/head lifeguard duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the lifeguard/head lifeguard job description is a good way to get more applicants. A lifeguard/head lifeguard salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a lifeguard/head lifeguard in Missouri may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level lifeguard/head lifeguard. Additionally, a lifeguard/head lifeguard with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average lifeguard/head lifeguard salary

   $13.55hourly

   $28,189 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level lifeguard/head lifeguard salary

   $22,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average lifeguard/head lifeguard salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$37,372	$18
   2	Massachusetts	$34,761	$17
   3	New York	$32,391	$16
   4	Minnesota	$29,202	$14
   5	Maryland	$28,691	$14
   6	Florida	$28,261	$14
   7	Arizona	$28,041	$13
   8	Colorado	$27,642	$13
   9	Wisconsin	$27,489	$13
   10	Michigan	$26,934	$13
   11	New Mexico	$26,742	$13
   12	Virginia	$26,299	$13
   13	Pennsylvania	$26,280	$13
   14	Illinois	$25,987	$12
   15	Georgia	$25,482	$12
   16	Texas	$25,045	$12
   17	South Carolina	$25,014	$12
   18	Kansas	$23,820	$11
   19	Missouri	$23,331	$11
   20	Iowa	$21,703	$10

   Average lifeguard/head lifeguard salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Trustmark Insurance Co	$37,274	$17.92	10
   2	PSEA	$37,093	$17.83	3
   3	Hidden Valley Country Club	$34,493	$16.58
   4	State of Connecticut	$33,851	$16.27	4
   5	Massachusetts General Hospital	$33,003	$15.87
   6	Woodfield Country Club	$31,554	$15.17	1
   7	Adams 12 Five Star Schools	$31,228	$15.01	2
   8	Loudoun County Social Svc	$30,941	$14.88
   9	The Walt Disney Company	$30,861	$14.84	2
   10	WTS International	$29,869	$14.36
   11	Centra	$29,668	$14.26
   12	Tarrant County	$29,525	$14.19
   13	Prince William County	$29,510	$14.19
   14	Hilton CSD	$29,422	$14.15
   15	University of Maine	$28,979	$13.93	2
   16	University of Michigan	$28,939	$13.91	1
   17	Village of Lincolnwood	$28,413	$13.66
   18	Chautauqua Institution	$28,409	$13.66
   19	City of Worcester	$28,332	$13.62	1
   20	City of Boulder	$27,932	$13.43

4. Writing a lifeguard/head lifeguard job description

   A good lifeguard/head lifeguard 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 lifeguard/head lifeguard job description:

   Lifeguard/head lifeguard job description example

   Overview It is the primary responsibility of the Lifeguard to ensure guest safety in the pool areas and provide excellent customer service. All duties are to be performed in accordance with departmental and Circus Circus policies, practices and procedures.
   Specific Job Functions:
   - Provide guest safety by watching over water and deck area and responding to emergency situations as needed.
   - Answer guests inquires in a professional and courteous manner.
   - Maintain cleanliness of pool deck and facilities including but not limited to straightening and stacking chairs, collecting soiled towels and trash, moving chairs, folding towels, and cleaning of pool areas.
   - Display knowledge of pool facilities, property and company information.
   - Interact with guests while adhering to company customer service standards.
   - Maintain pool deck's organization and cleanliness.
   - Performs other job-related duties as assigned. Responsibilities/Qualifications - American Red Cross CPR/AED for Lifeguards certification required.
   - American Red Cross Lifeguarding certification required.
   - Lifeguarding Experience preferred.
   - Able to learn all the pertinent aspects of daily pool operations including the ability to enforce rules in a courteous and professional manner.
   - Complete all mandatory training (i.e. blood borne pathogen, MSDS, Safety/Hazcom, and orientation) within ten (10) days of employment.
   - Must be trained to use proper rescue skills when necessary.
   - Excellent organizational skills to function effectively under time constraints, with particular attention to detail.
   - Excellent interpersonal skills, both in person and over the phone when dealing with management, employees, and guests.
   - Effective listening abilities with strong judgment skills and good public relations skills with a good personality, enjoying opportunities to work with and assist people.
   - Physical stamina and proper mental attitude to deal effectively with guests, management, vendors and employees while working under pressure and meeting deadlines, stand and move throughout the pool area.
   - Ability to carry, pull and maintain lounge chairs as well as other pool deck equipment such as towel bins, weighing up to 100 lbs.
   - Ability to work outdoors in seasonal heat or cold as well as inclement weather.
   - Maintain a professional, neat and well-groomed appearance, adhering to Circus Circus standards.
   - Must be able to communicate effectively in English, in both written and oral forms.
   - Must have interpersonal skills to deal effectively with all business contacts.
   - Work varied shifts, including weekends and holidays.
   - Proof of eligibility to work in the United States.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right lifeguard/head lifeguard for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with lifeguards/head lifeguards they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit lifeguards/head lifeguards who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your lifeguard/head lifeguard job on Zippia to find and recruit lifeguard/head lifeguard candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit lifeguards/head lifeguards, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 lifeguard/head lifeguard

   Once you've selected the best lifeguard/head lifeguard candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new lifeguard/head lifeguard. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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