Rescue boat operator vs lifeguard/swim instructor

The differences between rescue boat operators and lifeguard/swim instructors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a rescue boat operator has an average salary of $44,204, which is higher than the $27,743 average annual salary of a lifeguard/swim instructor.

The top three skills for a rescue boat operator include EMT, and . The most important skills for a lifeguard/swim instructor are first-aid, lifeguard training, and customer service.

Rescue boat operator vs lifeguard/swim instructor overview

	Rescue Boat Operator	Lifeguard/Swim Instructor
Yearly salary	$44,204	$27,743
Hourly rate	$21.25	$13.34
Growth rate	1%	-
Number of jobs	25,967	27,819
Job satisfaction	-	2
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age	26	26
Years of experience	-	-

Rescue boat operator vs lifeguard/swim instructor salary

Rescue boat operators and lifeguard/swim instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Rescue Boat Operator	Lifeguard/Swim Instructor
Average salary	$44,204	$27,743
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $85,000	Between $21,000 And $35,000
Highest paying City	-	Sunnyvale, CA
Highest paying state	-	Maine
Best paying company	-	The Phelps School
Best paying industry	-	Education

Differences between rescue boat operator and lifeguard/swim instructor education

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

	Rescue Boat Operator	Lifeguard/Swim Instructor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Psychology
Most common college	-	-

Rescue boat operator vs lifeguard/swim instructor demographics

Here are the differences between rescue boat operators' and lifeguard/swim instructors' demographics:

	Rescue Boat Operator	Lifeguard/Swim Instructor
Average age	26	26
Gender ratio	Male, 97.7% Female, 2.3%	Male, 39.1% Female, 60.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 7.8% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 3.8% White, 74.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	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%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between rescue boat operator and lifeguard/swim instructor duties and responsibilities

Rescue boat operator example responsibilities.

Obtain USAR technician level certifications and pump operator certifications.Skills UsedSupervisory skills, prehospital skills, FTO and preceptor skills.
Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injure persons.

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.

Rescue boat operator vs lifeguard/swim instructor skills

Common rescue boat operator skills

EMT, 100%

Common lifeguard/swim instructor skills

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

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Protective Service Industry
Rescue Boat Operator
Rescue Boat Operator vs Lifeguard/Swim Instructor

Updated January 8, 2025

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