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Best states for a pool lifeguard
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you want to become a pool lifeguard at Ymca, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for pool lifeguards that you can check out, before you begin your journey. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for pool lifeguard jobs.
The median salary for pool lifeguards in Maine is $35,278. Compare that to the median salary in Indiana of $20,059, which ranked worst for pool lifeguards, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that Maine is the best state for pool lifeguard jobs, whereas Indiana is the worst.
10 best states for pool lifeguards in 2026
1. Maine
Total pool lifeguard jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $35,278 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.94
2. California
Total pool lifeguard jobs: 122 Average annual salary: $37,003 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
3. Arizona
Total pool lifeguard jobs: 58 Average annual salary: $29,922 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 2.84
4. Massachusetts
Total pool lifeguard jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $33,340 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
5. Washington
Total pool lifeguard jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $36,866 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 0.39
6. Idaho
Total pool lifeguard jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $33,423 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 0.52
7. Connecticut
Total pool lifeguard jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $31,822 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 0.78
8. Wisconsin
Total pool lifeguard jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $28,563 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
9. Nevada
Total pool lifeguard jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $27,404 Lowest 10 percent earn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Location Quotient: 5.34
10. Alaska
Total pool lifeguard jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $29,129 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Location Quotient: 2.06
Pool lifeguard jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a pool lifeguard
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a pool lifeguard
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $35,278 | $28,000 | 1,335,907 | 9 |
| 2 | California | $37,003 | $29,000 | 39,536,653 | 122 |
| 3 | Arizona | $29,922 | $23,000 | 7,016,270 | 58 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $33,340 | $26,000 | 6,859,819 | 29 |
| 5 | Washington | $36,866 | $29,000 | 7,405,743 | 10 |
| 6 | Idaho | $33,423 | $26,000 | 1,716,943 | 3 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $31,822 | $25,000 | 3,588,184 | 9 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $28,563 | $22,000 | 5,795,483 | 20 |
| 9 | Nevada | $27,404 | $21,000 | 2,998,039 | 39 |
| 10 | Alaska | $29,129 | $24,000 | 739,795 | 6 |
| 11 | Vermont | $33,228 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 0 |
| 12 | Colorado | $29,197 | $22,000 | 5,607,154 | 27 |
| 13 | Oregon | $29,358 | $23,000 | 4,142,776 | 12 |
| 14 | New York | $31,956 | $25,000 | 19,849,399 | 21 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $28,972 | $22,000 | 1,815,857 | 2 |
| 16 | Michigan | $27,639 | $21,000 | 9,962,311 | 17 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $28,336 | $22,000 | 5,576,606 | 14 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $29,772 | $26,000 | 1,427,538 | 7 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $28,916 | $23,000 | 1,059,639 | 0 |
| 20 | Florida | $26,489 | $20,000 | 20,984,400 | 148 |
| 21 | Maryland | $27,517 | $21,000 | 6,052,177 | 51 |
| 22 | Delaware | $27,110 | $21,000 | 961,939 | 5 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $28,075 | $21,000 | 4,454,189 | 3 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $27,790 | $22,000 | 9,005,644 | 22 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $28,271 | $22,000 | 1,342,795 | 0 |
| 26 | Montana | $25,475 | $20,000 | 1,050,493 | 11 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $26,769 | $20,000 | 2,088,070 | 4 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $26,524 | $20,000 | 579,315 | 1 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $25,709 | $20,000 | 12,805,537 | 31 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $26,666 | $21,000 | 755,393 | 0 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $24,842 | $19,000 | 2,984,100 | 14 |
| 32 | Utah | $26,381 | $20,000 | 3,101,833 | 4 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $25,663 | $20,000 | 3,004,279 | 1 |
| 34 | Illinois | $26,604 | $20,000 | 12,802,023 | 19 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $25,522 | $20,000 | 1,920,076 | 1 |
| 36 | Texas | $23,419 | $18,000 | 28,304,596 | 87 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $27,327 | $21,000 | 693,972 | 0 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $25,188 | $19,000 | 869,666 | 0 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $23,295 | $18,000 | 6,715,984 | 15 |
| 40 | Missouri | $24,825 | $19,000 | 6,113,532 | 12 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $23,515 | $18,000 | 10,273,419 | 24 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $22,899 | $17,000 | 5,024,369 | 18 |
| 43 | Virginia | $23,404 | $18,000 | 8,470,020 | 34 |
| 44 | Ohio | $23,472 | $18,000 | 11,658,609 | 17 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $24,244 | $18,000 | 4,684,333 | 3 |
| 46 | Alabama | $23,629 | $18,000 | 4,874,747 | 4 |
| 47 | Kansas | $22,431 | $17,000 | 2,913,123 | 8 |
| 48 | Georgia | $21,332 | $16,000 | 10,429,379 | 31 |
| 49 | Iowa | $20,361 | $15,000 | 3,145,711 | 8 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $22,132 | $17,000 | 3,930,864 | 5 |
| 51 | Indiana | $20,059 | $15,000 | 6,666,818 | 11 |
Highest paying states for pool lifeguards
| Rank | State | Avg. Pool Lifeguard Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $35,278 |
| 2 | California | $37,003 |
| 3 | Arizona | $29,922 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $33,340 |
| 5 | Washington | $36,866 |
| 6 | Idaho | $33,423 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $31,822 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $28,563 |
| 9 | Nevada | $27,404 |
| 10 | Alaska | $29,129 |
| 11 | Vermont | $33,228 |
| 12 | Colorado | $29,197 |
| 13 | Oregon | $29,358 |
| 14 | New York | $31,956 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $28,972 |
| 16 | Michigan | $27,639 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $28,336 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $29,772 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $28,916 |
| 20 | Florida | $26,489 |
| 21 | Maryland | $27,517 |
| 22 | Delaware | $27,110 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $28,075 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $27,790 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $28,271 |
| 26 | Montana | $25,475 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $26,769 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $26,524 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $25,709 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $26,666 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $24,842 |
| 32 | Utah | $26,381 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $25,663 |
| 34 | Illinois | $26,604 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $25,522 |
| 36 | Texas | $23,419 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $27,327 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $25,188 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $23,295 |
| 40 | Missouri | $24,825 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $23,515 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $22,899 |
| 43 | Virginia | $23,404 |
| 44 | Ohio | $23,472 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $24,244 |
| 46 | Alabama | $23,629 |
| 47 | Kansas | $22,431 |
| 48 | Georgia | $21,332 |
| 49 | Iowa | $20,361 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $22,132 |
| 51 | Indiana | $20,059 |
Pool lifeguard best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025