Lifeguard/swim instructor vs beach lifeguard

The differences between lifeguard/swim instructors and beach lifeguards can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a beach lifeguard has an average salary of $29,050, 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 a beach lifeguard are CPR, emergency situations, and patrol.

Lifeguard/swim instructor vs beach lifeguard overview

	Lifeguard/Swim Instructor	Beach Lifeguard
Yearly salary	$27,743	$29,050
Hourly rate	$13.34	$13.97
Growth rate	-	-
Number of jobs	27,819	3,304
Job satisfaction	2	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age	26	26
Years of experience	-	-

Lifeguard/swim instructor vs beach lifeguard salary

Lifeguard/swim instructors and beach lifeguards have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Lifeguard/Swim Instructor	Beach Lifeguard
Average salary	$27,743	$29,050
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $35,000	Between $23,000 And $36,000
Highest paying City	Sunnyvale, CA	Manteca, CA
Highest paying state	Maine	California
Best paying company	The Phelps School	Bay Head Yacht Club
Best paying industry	Education	Hospitality

Differences between lifeguard/swim instructor and beach lifeguard education

There are a few differences between a lifeguard/swim instructor and a beach lifeguard in terms of educational background:

	Lifeguard/Swim Instructor	Beach Lifeguard
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common major	Psychology	Business
Most common college	-	-

Lifeguard/swim instructor vs beach lifeguard demographics

Here are the differences between lifeguard/swim instructors' and beach lifeguards' demographics:

	Lifeguard/Swim Instructor	Beach Lifeguard
Average age	26	26
Gender ratio	Male, 39.1% Female, 60.9%	Male, 67.1% Female, 32.9%
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, 13.9% Asian, 4.4% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between lifeguard/swim instructor and beach lifeguard duties and responsibilities

Lifeguard/swim instructor example responsibilities.

Design and implement a learn-to-swim program for ages 2-25.
Conduct learn-to-swim classes for various ages and swimming levels.
Plan daily activities, games, devotions, bible lessons, evening lessons, song times and meals.
Inspect recreational area for cleanliness; maintain quality of pool water levels by testing chemical levels
Maintain general appearance and cleanliness of assign area and perform general housekeeping of assign area; maintain water safety equipment.
Create and run up to date and relevant swimming drills that are both fun and beneficial for students.

Beach lifeguard example responsibilities.

Used ATV's for various beach duties.
Examine injure persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.
Examine injured individuals, administer first aid.

Lifeguard/swim instructor vs beach lifeguard skills

Common lifeguard/swim instructor skills

First-Aid, 27%
Lifeguard Training, 12%
Customer Service, 10%
Emergency Situations, 10%
Cleanliness, 8%
Pool Deck, 3%

Common beach lifeguard skills

CPR, 34%
Emergency Situations, 9%
Patrol, 8%
Water Safety, 6%
Lifeguard Training, 6%
Public Safety, 4%

Lifeguard/Swim Instructor vs. similar jobs

Lifeguard/Swim Instructor related careers

Lifeguard/Swim Instructor related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Protective Service Industry
Lifeguard/Swim Instructor
Lifeguard/Swim Instructor vs Beach Lifeguard

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse protective service jobs