Lifeguard/swim instructor vs certified lifeguard

The differences between lifeguard/swim instructors and certified lifeguards can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a certified lifeguard has an average salary of $28,264, 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 certified lifeguard are first-aid, water safety, and in-service training.

Lifeguard/swim instructor vs certified lifeguard overview

	Lifeguard/Swim Instructor	Certified Lifeguard
Yearly salary	$27,743	$28,264
Hourly rate	$13.34	$13.59
Growth rate	-	-
Number of jobs	27,819	36,332
Job satisfaction	2	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age	26	26
Years of experience	-	-

Lifeguard/swim instructor vs certified lifeguard salary

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

	Lifeguard/Swim Instructor	Certified Lifeguard
Average salary	$27,743	$28,264
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $35,000	Between $22,000 And $35,000
Highest paying City	Sunnyvale, CA	-
Highest paying state	Maine	-
Best paying company	The Phelps School	-
Best paying industry	Education	-

Differences between lifeguard/swim instructor and certified lifeguard education

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

	Lifeguard/Swim Instructor	Certified Lifeguard
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common major	Psychology	Business
Most common college	-	-

Lifeguard/swim instructor vs certified lifeguard demographics

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

	Lifeguard/Swim Instructor	Certified Lifeguard
Average age	26	26
Gender ratio	Male, 39.1% Female, 60.9%	Male, 49.7% Female, 50.3%
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, 5.8% Unknown, 7.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% Asian, 4.3% White, 68.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between lifeguard/swim instructor and certified 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.

Certified lifeguard example responsibilities.

Acquire skills in CPR, safety regulations, leadership and responsibility
Work as a beach patrol lifeguard for several summers (2007 and 2008) amounting to 6 months.
Perform rescues and administer first-aid in emergency situations.
Provide first responder first aid when necessary.
Implement basic first aid and first responder procedures.
Coordinate swim meets and ensure that they run smoothly.

Lifeguard/swim instructor vs certified 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 certified lifeguard skills

First-Aid, 39%
Water Safety, 17%
In-Service Training, 7%
Rescue Techniques, 7%
Professional Attitude, 3%
Emergency Situations, 2%

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Protective Service Industry
Lifeguard/Swim Instructor
Lifeguard/Swim Instructor vs Certified Lifeguard

Updated January 8, 2025

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