Pool lifeguard demographics and statistics in the US
Pool lifeguard demographics research summary. Zippia estimates pool lifeguard demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our pool lifeguard estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about pool lifeguards after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 53,734 pool lifeguards currently employed in the United States.
- 41.8% of all pool lifeguards are women, while 58.2% are men.
- The average pool lifeguard age is 25 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of pool lifeguards is White (68.3%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (13.6%), Unknown (7.8%) and Black or African American (5.7%).
- In 2022, women earned 99% of what men earned.
- 7% of all pool lifeguards are LGBT.
- Pool lifeguards are 49% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to government companies.
On this page
Pool lifeguard demographics by:
Pool lifeguard gender statistics
41.8% of pool lifeguards are women and 58.2% of pool lifeguards are men.
- Male, 58.2%
- Female, 41.8%
Pool lifeguard gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 58.2% |
| Female | 41.8% |
Pool lifeguard gender pay gap
Women earn 99¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$28,136
Female income
$27,887
Pool lifeguard gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in pool lifeguard positions over time. Currently, 41.8% of pool lifeguards are female.
Pool lifeguard gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 46.98% | 53.02% |
| 2011 | 46.95% | 53.05% |
| 2012 | 42.33% | 57.67% |
| 2013 | 46.23% | 53.77% |
| 2014 | 47.75% | 52.25% |
| 2015 | 53.18% | 46.82% |
| 2016 | 54.32% | 45.68% |
| 2017 | 51.94% | 48.06% |
| 2018 | 53.11% | 46.89% |
| 2019 | 57.48% | 42.52% |
| 2020 | 60.65% | 39.35% |
| 2021 | 58.15% | 41.85% |
Pool lifeguard related jobs gender ratio
We compared pool lifeguards with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, rescue boat operator and bodyguard have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Playground Monitor | 18% | 82% |
| School Crossing Guard | 21% | 79% |
| Crossing Guard | 23% | 77% |
| Pool Lifeguard | 58% | 42% |
| Bouncer | 94% | 6% |
| Bodyguard | 96% | 4% |
| Rescue Boat Operator | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Pool lifeguard demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among pool lifeguards is White, which makes up 68.3% of all pool lifeguards. Comparatively, 13.6% of pool lifeguards are Hispanic or Latino and 7.8% of pool lifeguards are Unknown.
- White, 68.3%
- Hispanic or Latino, 13.6%
- Unknown, 7.8%
- Black or African American, 5.7%
- Asian, 4.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
Pool lifeguard race
| Pool lifeguard race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 68.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 13.6% |
| Unknown | 7.8% |
| Black or African American | 5.7% |
| Asian | 4.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.3% |
Pool lifeguard race and ethnicity over time
See how pool lifeguard racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Pool lifeguard race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 76.13% | 6.68% | 2.80% | 11.76% |
| 2011 | 75.01% | 7.41% | 2.60% | 11.96% |
| 2012 | 75.85% | 6.92% | 1.94% | 11.89% |
| 2013 | 74.06% | 7.06% | 2.60% | 12.53% |
| 2014 | 74.45% | 6.54% | 3.44% | 11.89% |
| 2015 | 74.49% | 6.16% | 3.09% | 12.78% |
| 2016 | 74.59% | 5.73% | 3.27% | 12.10% |
| 2017 | 72.77% | 6.19% | 3.53% | 13.66% |
| 2018 | 71.72% | 5.71% | 4.27% | 13.75% |
| 2019 | 72.52% | 5.71% | 3.50% | 13.42% |
| 2020 | 67.85% | 6.25% | 4.32% | 14.46% |
| 2021 | 68.32% | 5.72% | 4.32% | 13.56% |
Pool lifeguard wage gap by race
According to our data, hispanic or latino pool lifeguards have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american pool lifeguards have the lowest average salary at $27,036.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $27,870 |
| White | $28,648 |
| Black or African American | $27,036 |
| Asian | $28,352 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $28,809 |
Average pool lifeguard age
See how the average age of pool lifeguards varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Pool lifeguard age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 21.5 | 20 |
| White | 21 | 20 |
| Asian | 25 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 21 | 20 |
Pool lifeguard age breakdown
The average age of pool lifeguards is 20-30 years years old, representing 36% of the pool lifeguard population.
Pool lifeguard age breakdown
| Pool Lifeguard Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 12% |
| 30-40 years | 14% |
| 20-30 years | 36% |
Pool lifeguard educational attainment
The most common degree for pool lifeguards is bachelor's degree, with 65% of pool lifeguards earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 17% and high school diploma degree at 10%.
- Bachelor's, 65%
- High School Diploma, 17%
- Associate, 10%
- Master's, 4%
- Other Degrees, 4%
Pool lifeguards by degree level
| Pool lifeguard degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 65% |
| High School Diploma | 17% |
| Associate | 10% |
| Master's | 4% |
| Other Degrees | 4% |
Pool lifeguard jobs you might like
Pool lifeguard wage gap by degree level
According to the data, pool lifeguards with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $29,201 annually. With a Associate degree, pool lifeguards earn a median annual income of $27,963 compared to $27,464 for pool lifeguards with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $27,464 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $29,201 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $27,963 |
Pool lifeguard employment statistics
Most pool lifeguards work for a private in the government industry.
Company size where pool lifeguards work
Below, you can see the size of companies where pool lifeguards work.
Pool lifeguard jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 8% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 26% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 29% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 19% |
| > 10,000 employees | 11% |
Pool lifeguard jobs by company type
Employees with the pool lifeguard job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most pool lifeguards prefer to work at private companies over government companies.
Pool lifeguard jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 16% |
| Public | 11% |
| Private | 49% |
| Government | 24% |
Pool lifeguard jobs by industry
The most common industries for pool lifeguards are government, hospitality and education.
Pool lifeguard industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Government | 20% |
| Hospitality | 19% |
| Education | 13% |
| Health Care | 10% |
| Non Profits | 9% |
| Professional | 5% |
| Fortune 500 | 4% |
| Retail | 4% |
| Real Estate | 3% |
| Construction | 3% |
| Manufacturing | 3% |
| Media | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
Pool lifeguard turnover and employment statistics
Pool lifeguard unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for pool lifeguards between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Pool lifeguard unemployment rate by year
| Year | Pool lifeguard unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 15.01% |
| 2011 | 13.89% |
| 2012 | 12.79% |
| 2013 | 11.41% |
| 2014 | 11.93% |
| 2015 | 12.03% |
| 2016 | 10.37% |
| 2017 | 12.84% |
| 2018 | 9.60% |
| 2019 | 8.38% |
| 2020 | 15.70% |
| 2021 | 9.76% |
Average pool lifeguard tenure
The average pool lifeguard stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,442 pool lifeguards resumes in Zippia's database.
Pool lifeguard tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 37% |
| 1-2 years | 30% |
| 3-4 years | 17% |
| 5-7 years | 12% |
| 8-10 years | 2% |
| 11+ years | 3% |
Pool lifeguard LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of pool lifeguards that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Rail Signal Worker | 3.84% | 22,904 |
| Security Guard Supervisor | 6.29% | 84,719 |
| Loss Prevention Representative | 7.17% | 3,776 |
| Pool Lifeguard | 7.20% | - |
| Asset Protection Detective | 8.27% | 82,030 |
| Lead Transportation Security Officer | 15.51% | 104,461 |
Similar pool lifeguard jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Rail Signal Worker | 3.84% | 22,904 |
| Security Guard Supervisor | 6.29% | 84,719 |
| Loss Prevention Representative | 7.17% | 3,776 |
| Asset Protection Detective | 8.27% | 82,030 |
| Lead Transportation Security Officer | 15.51% | 104,461 |
Foreign languages spoken by pool lifeguards
The most common foreign language among pool lifeguards is Spanish at 50.6%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 9.1% and Russian is the third-most popular at 6.5%.
- Spanish, 50.6%
- French, 9.1%
- Russian, 6.5%
- Mandarin, 3.9%
- Swedish, 2.6%
- Other, 27.3%
Pool lifeguard languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 50.6% |
| French | 9.1% |
| Russian | 6.5% |
| Mandarin | 3.9% |
| Swedish | 2.6% |
| Other | 27.3% |
