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The differences between lifeguard/swim instructors and aquatics specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an aquatics specialist has an average salary of $37,000, which is higher than the $27,743 average annual salary of a lifeguard/swim instructor.
The top three skills for a lifeguard/swim instructor include first-aid, lifeguard training and customer service. The most important skills for an aquatics specialist are husbandry, primary resource, and animal welfare.
| Lifeguard/Swim Instructor | Aquatics Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $27,743 | $37,000 |
| Hourly rate | $13.34 | $17.79 |
| Growth rate | - | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 27,819 | 19,982 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 26 | 26 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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. One of their essential duties is to prevent fatal accidents and injuries. They are trained in the different techniques of first aid, water rescue, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. They mostly teach children, though they teach people of all ages.
The duties of an aquatics specialist depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. With their expertise in aquatic environments, an aquatics specialist may work at government agencies, laboratories, learning institutions, and private companies. Typically, their responsibilities include conducting studies and observations, gathering and analyzing data through scientific procedures, coordinating with fellow experts, managing aquatics programs and projects, and developing strategies to resolve issues and concerns. Furthermore, as an aquatics specialist, it is essential to lead the efforts of different projects, all while adhering to the organization's vision and mission.
Lifeguard/swim instructors and aquatics specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lifeguard/Swim Instructor | Aquatics Specialist | |
| Average salary | $27,743 | $37,000 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $35,000 | Between $25,000 And $54,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sunnyvale, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | Maine | - |
| Best paying company | The Phelps School | - |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a lifeguard/swim instructor and an aquatics specialist in terms of educational background:
| Lifeguard/Swim Instructor | Aquatics Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Biology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between lifeguard/swim instructors' and aquatics specialists' demographics:
| Lifeguard/Swim Instructor | Aquatics Specialist | |
| Average age | 26 | 26 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.1% Female, 60.9% | Male, 53.7% Female, 46.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 7.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.6% Asian, 4.3% White, 68.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 4.4% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |