What does a lifeguard/swim instructor do?
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.
Lifeguard/swim instructor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real lifeguard/swim instructor resumes:
- 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.
- Train early, intermediate, and advance swimmers in the arts of swimming, diving, and survival.
- Assess students on various water skills such as swim strokes, diving, survival skills, and first aid.
- Safeguard all persons from injury or drowning through alertness and firm, courteous enforcement of pool rules.
- Instruct students to swim freestyle independently
Lifeguard/swim instructor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 27% of Lifeguard/Swim Instructors are proficient in First-Aid, Lifeguard Training, and Customer Service.
We break down the percentage of Lifeguard/Swim Instructors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- First-Aid, 27%
Responded quickly to individuals in crisis situations involving first-aid care.
- Lifeguard Training, 12%
Position taken to keep certifications current, responsibilities include guarding and teaching lifeguard training and water safety classes.
- Customer Service, 10%
Enforced rules/safety regulations, Provided customer service, Planned swim lessons, Provided feedback to students/parents, Maintained a safe/clean facility.
- Emergency Situations, 10%
Maintained constant surveillance of guests in the facility; qualified to act immediately and appropriately to secure safety in emergency situations.
- Cleanliness, 8%
Maintained general appearance and cleanliness of assigned area and performed general housekeeping of assigned area; maintained water safety equipment.
- Pool Deck, 3%
Observed patrons from the lifeguard tower and pool deck with the proper safety devices to ensure complete safety was being practiced.
Most lifeguard/swim instructors use their skills in "first-aid," "lifeguard training," and "customer service" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential lifeguard/swim instructor responsibilities here:
The three companies that hire the most lifeguard/swim instructors are:
- Goldfish Swim School44 lifeguard/swim instructors jobs
- Ymca Of Greater St. Louis9 lifeguard/swim instructors jobs
- Tampa YMCA7 lifeguard/swim instructors jobs
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Compare different lifeguard/swim instructors
Lifeguard/swim instructor vs. Aquatics specialist
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.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between lifeguard/swim instructors and aquatics specialist. For instance, lifeguard/swim instructor responsibilities require skills such as "first-aid," "lifeguard training," "emergency situations," and "cleanliness." Whereas a aquatics specialist is skilled in "husbandry," "primary resource," "animal welfare," and "cpr." This is part of what separates the two careers.
On average, aquatics specialists reach similar levels of education than lifeguard/swim instructors. Aquatics specialists are 0.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Lifeguard/swim instructor vs. Ski patrol
A swim coach is someone who teaches and trains people how to swim. A swim coach provides tips and techniques for people to follow if they want to learn how to swim. Demand for swimming teachers is growing, especially during summer where people travel to the beach and resorts to enjoy their vacations. A swim coach should know how to determine a student's skill, provide suitable teaching methods, and enhance the student's current swimming skill through specialized and customized swimming lessons.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, lifeguard/swim instructor responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "lifeguard training," "customer service," "cleanliness," and "pool deck." Meanwhile, a ski patrol has duties that require skills in areas such as "patrol," "trail maintenance," "cpr," and "guest service." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
In general, ski patrols achieve similar levels of education than lifeguard/swim instructors. They're 1.9% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Lifeguard/swim instructor vs. Beach patrol lieutenant
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, lifeguard/swim instructors are more likely to have skills like "first-aid," "lifeguard training," "customer service," and "cleanliness." But a beach patrol lieutenant is more likely to have skills like "patrol," "aed," "law enforcement," and "safety guidelines."
When it comes to education, beach patrol lieutenants tend to earn similar degree levels compared to lifeguard/swim instructors. In fact, they're 0.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Lifeguard/swim instructor vs. Swim coach
Types of lifeguard/swim instructor
Updated January 8, 2025
