What Does a Swim Instructor Do?

As the name entails, swim instructors teach both children and adults how to swim. They help people develop their swimming ability through proper swimming techniques. Their responsibilities include ensuring that all swimming equipment is in good condition, evaluating student performance and providing feedback, and preparing reports on attendance and accidents. They are also responsible for preventing injuries and accidents through monitoring. There are several requirements to become a successful swim instructor that may include previous experience as a swim instructor, certifications on CPR and first aid, and swimming abilities.

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Swim Instructor Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real swim instructor resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

Manage all subjects of TOEFL.
Manage, facilitate and coordinate competitive swimming events using HY-TEK system.
Manage social media accounts while promoting camper interaction and sharing of the UCA brand experience.
Maintain continual first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification, while ensuring the members' requests are meet and exceed their expectations.
Care for and assist children with severe food allergies.
Certify in water aerobics, as well as CPR.
Teach private lessons to students that play woodwind and brass instruments.
Develop curriculum and testing metric for a youth Muay Thai program.
Design and update midterm and final tests for all ESL levels.
Teach learn-to-swim lessons for infants, toddlers and children of all ages.
Teach learn-to-swim for 1-8 infants, toddlers, and children ages 2-6.
Adhere to NCAA rules and regulations regarding prospective student athletes when recruiting.
Attend and employ NCAA rules and compliance requirements-completion of annual recruiting test.
Facilitate students in social skills and peer groups base on students IEP goals.
Provide instruction and coaching to high school cheerleaders at UCA summer cheer camps.

Swim Instructor Job Description

Perhaps the hardest question to answer when deciding on a career as a swim instructor is "should I become a swim instructor?" You might find this info to be helpful. When compared to other jobs, swim instructor careers are projected to have a growth rate described as "much faster than average" at 13% from 2018 through 2028. This is in accordance with the Bureau of Labor Statistics. What's more, is that the projected number of opportunities that are predicted to become available for a swim instructor by 2028 is 45,700.

A swim instructor annual salary averages $25,815, which breaks down to $12.41 an hour. However, swim instructors can earn anywhere from upwards of $18,000 to $35,000 a year. This means that the top-earning swim instructors make $13,000 more than the lowest-earning ones.

As is the case with most jobs, it takes work to become a swim instructor. Sometimes people change their minds about their career after working in the profession. That's why we looked into some other professions that might help you find your next opportunity. These professions include an ocean lifeguard, beach lifeguard, pool lifeguard, and lifeguard/head lifeguard.

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12 Swim Instructor Resume Examples

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Ruth Bradley Swim Instructor Contact Information Greenwood, IN (520) 555-6351 rbradley@example.com Skills Patience In-Service Training Adult Learners Water Safety Instruction General Public Procedures Classroom Management Safety Rules Physiology Learn-To-Swim Employment History Swim Instructor 2017 - Present YMCA of Greater Indianapolis Greenwood, IN Certified Lifeguard Enforce pool rules. Conducted continued training with new instructors to ensure familiarity with the teaching materials and adjustment to a new environment. Assist in in-service training of employees. Certify students in CPR, Water Safety, and Lifeguarding Supervised 15 swim instructors and on-duty lifeguard during swim lessons. Swim Instructor 2016 - 2017 YMCA of Greater Indianapolis Fishers, IN Monitor activities to detect hazards, unsafe areas or safety infractions and take appropriate preventative measures. Adapted and utilized various communication and coaching methods to best support the individual or group. Water Safety Instructor 2015 - 2016 YMCA of Greater Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Prepare lesson plans for swimming lessons Provide proper instruction on swimming and safety lessons Encourage and teach swimming techniques through creative activities Education High School Diploma 2015 - 2015


Alan Peterson Swim Instructor Contact Info Boston, MA (610) 555-1088 apeterson@example.com Skills Customer ServiceCommunicationLifeguardCommunity ResourcesWeather ConditionsCustomer ComplaintsGroup ClassesAttendance InformationHigh SchoolsConstant Surveillance Employment History Swim Instructor 2017 - Present YMCA of Greater Houston Boston, MA Worked as a lifeguard and swimming instructor for Rochester Community Education Received an award for Lifeguard of the week first week on the job. Swim Instructor/ Lifeguard providing a secure and enjoyable experience for all pool patrons. Assistant Swim Coach 2014 - 2017 Nike Swampscott, MA Rehired 2017 Assists Head Coach/Director phases of program including coaching, player development and training. Plan daily training sessions for teenage female athletes Conduct camp-wide college recruitment information session Worked as a lifeguard certified in CPR, First Aid and Lifesaving. Set up visits to campus for prospective student athletes. Beach Lifeguard 2012 - 2014 Jewish Center For Community Swampscott, MA Helped with lifeguard schedule Taught swim lessons Involved in decisions that affected the aquatics department Conduct group, semi-private, and private lessons for students of all ages. Education High School Diploma 2012 - 2012


Raymond Williams Swim Instructor Zionsville, IN (480) 555-7770 rwilliams@example.com Experience Swim Instructor2018 - Present YMCA of Greater Indianapolis•Zionsville, IN Coach for the swim team Lifeguard Prevented accidents by constantly observing the pool area, enforcing health and safety rules while maintaining emergency readiness. Allowed to teach for the American Red Cross Learn-To-Swim program. Swim Instructor2017 - 2018 YMCA of Greater Indianapolis•Indianapolis, IN Launch college-level online course by writing curriculum and teaching on-line. Teach children how to swim while maintaining a strict safety procedure. pool lifeguard * Swim Instructor- private and group lessons through the NU Learn To Swim Program Certified by the Red Cross as a lifeguard and water safety instructor, as well as in CPR and first aid Designed and organized lesson plans for each level during every week of the program. Water Safety Instructor2016 - 2017 American Pool•Pittsburgh, PA Provided a secure and maintained facility while assisting the supervisor with various daily tasks Performed CPR and first-aid procedures when necessary. Trained in all aspects of lifesaving and emergency First-Aid. Staff Swim Camp Instructor, Pool Maintenance; Certified American Red Cross Lifeguard Skills Class ParticipantsCustomer ServiceStudent LearningPrivate LessonsWater Safety InstructionProfessional DevelopmentLesson ProgramWater AerobicsInternetMMA Education Bachelor's Degree Nursing2013 - 2016 Central State University•Wilberforce, OH

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Swim Instructor Skills and Personality Traits

We calculated that 21% of Swim Instructors are proficient in Lifeguard, Cleanliness, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Listening skills, and Motivational skills.

We break down the percentage of Swim Instructors that have these skills listed on their resume here:

Lifeguard, 21%
Worked as a lifeguard and swimming instructor for Rochester Community Education
Cleanliness, 20%
Maintained pool cleanliness and sanitation.
Customer Service, 15%
Led private lessons with children that have learning disabilities to ensure customer satisfaction by offering exceptional customer service.
Kids, 12%
Developed skills to communicate with parents and kids effectively.
Emergency Situations, 4%
Tend to accident or emergency situations in accordance with accident/incident protocols and/or emergency action plans.
Work Ethic, 4%
Permitted to run Friday morning classes unaccompanied due to demonstration of responsibility and excellent work ethic.

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Some of the skills we found on swim instructor resumes included "lifeguard," "cleanliness," and "customer service." We have detailed the most important swim instructor responsibilities below.

The most important skills for a swim instructor to have in this position are customer-service skills. In this excerpt that we gathered from a swim instructor resume, you'll understand why: "many fitness trainers and instructors must sell their services, motivating clients to hire them as personal trainers or to sign up for the classes they lead" According to resumes we found, customer-service skills can be used by a swim instructor in order to "cleaned the pool to ensure cleanliness for all guests. "

Another commonly found skill for being able to perform swim instructor duties is the following: listening skills. According to a swim instructor resume, "fitness trainers and instructors must listen carefully to what clients tell them in order to determine the clients’ fitness levels and desired fitness goals." Check out this example of how swim instructors use listening skills: "designed and communicated swim lessons to children ages 2 to 14"

Swim instructors are also known for motivational skills, which can be critical when it comes to performing their duties. An example of why this skill is important is shown by this snippet that we found in a swim instructor resume: "getting fit and staying fit takes a lot of work for many clients" We also found this resume example that details how this skill is put to the test: "utilize modern motivational techniques, attentiveness to detail and concise communication to positively direct clients to improve technique. "

In order for certain swim instructor responsibilities to be completed, the job requires the skill "physical fitness." According to a swim instructor resume, "fitness trainers and instructors need to be physically fit because their job requires a considerable amount of exercise" As an example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies: "instructed 20 children ages 5-13 in tactical and physical skills. "

As part of the swim instructor description, you might find that one of the skills that might be helpful to the job is "problem-solving skills." A swim instructor resume included this snippet: "fitness trainers and instructors must evaluate each client’s level of fitness and create an appropriate fitness plan to meet the client’s individual needs." This skill could be useful in this scenario: "resolved complaints from parents related to the pool and/or lessons conducted a special teaching program for kids with special needs. "

Lastly, this career requires you to be skillful in "communication skills." According to swim instructor resumes, "fitness trainers and instructors must clearly explain or demonstrate exercises to clients." This resume example highlights how swim instructor responsibilities rely on this skill: "provided swim lessons primarily to children ages 3-10, extensive communication with parents and exercised patience, and management of multiple employees"

See the full list of swim instructor skills.

After discovering the most helpful skills, we moved onto what kind of education might be helpful in becoming a swim instructor. We found that 66.8% of swim instructors have graduated with a bachelor's degree and 4.5% of people in this position have earned their master's degrees. While most swim instructors have a college degree, you may find it's also true that generally it's possible to be successful in this career with only a high school degree. In fact, our research shows that one out of every seven swim instructors were not college graduates.

Those swim instructors who do attend college, typically earn either a psychology degree or a business degree. Less commonly earned degrees for swim instructors include a kinesiology degree or a biology degree.

Once you're ready to become a swim instructor, you should explore the companies that typically hire swim instructors. According to swim instructor resumes that we searched through, swim instructors are hired the most by Goldfish Swim School, Ymca Of Metropolitan Atlanta, and Emler Swim School. Currently, Goldfish Swim School has 113 swim instructor job openings, while there are 58 at Ymca Of Metropolitan Atlanta and 45 at Emler Swim School.

If you're interested in companies where swim instructors make the most money, you'll want to apply for positions at Massachusetts General Hospital, Robbinsdale Area Schools, and PSEA. We found that at Massachusetts General Hospital, the average swim instructor salary is $45,286. Whereas at Robbinsdale Area Schools, swim instructors earn roughly $33,615. And at PSEA, they make an average salary of $33,230.

View more details on swim instructor salaries across the United States.

We also looked into companies who hire swim instructors from the top 100 educational institutions in the U.S. The top three companies that hire the most from these institutions include Ymca, American Red Cross, and Swim.

The industries that swim instructors fulfill the most roles in are the non profits and education industries. But the highest swim instructor annual salary is in the education industry, averaging $28,059. In the hospitality industry they make $25,890 and average about $25,693 in the government industry. In conclusion, swim instructors who work in the education industry earn a 10.9% higher salary than swim instructors in the non profits industry.

The three companies that hire the most prestigious swim instructors are:

Goldfish Swim School113 Swim Instructors Jobs
Ymca Of Metropolitan Atlanta58 Swim Instructors Jobs
Emler Swim School45 Swim Instructors Jobs

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What Ocean Lifeguards Do

An Ocean Lifeguard maintains continuous surveillance of people in the area of a beach. They supervise swimmers to ensure that they are swimming in accordance with safety protocols.

We looked at the average swim instructor annual salary and compared it with the average of an ocean lifeguard. Generally speaking, ocean lifeguards receive $4,094 higher pay than swim instructors per year.

Even though swim instructors and ocean lifeguards have vast differences in their careers, a few of the skills required to do both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require emergency situations, first aid training, and resuscitation in the day-to-day roles.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. A swim instructor responsibility is more likely to require skills like "lifeguard," "cleanliness," "customer service," and "kids." Whereas a ocean lifeguard requires skills like "public safety," "emt," "patrol," and "responder." Just by understanding these different skills you can see how different these careers are.

The education levels that ocean lifeguards earn is a bit different than that of swim instructors. In particular, ocean lifeguards are 3.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a swim instructor. Additionally, they're 0.9% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What Are The Duties Of a Beach Lifeguard?

The next role we're going to look at is the beach lifeguard profession. Typically, this position earns a higher pay. In fact, they earn a $3,235 higher salary than swim instructors per year.

Not everything about these jobs is different. Take their skills, for example. Swim instructors and beach lifeguards both include similar skills like "lifeguard," "first aid aed," and "emergency situations" on their resumes.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, several resumes showed us that swim instructor responsibilities requires skills like "cleanliness," "customer service," "kids," and "work ethic." But a beach lifeguard might use skills, such as, "cpr," "patrol," "lifeguard training," and "public safety."

On average, beach lifeguards earn a higher salary than swim instructors. There are industries that support higher salaries in each profession respectively. Interestingly enough, beach lifeguards earn the most pay in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $29,643. Whereas, swim instructors have higher paychecks in the education industry where they earn an average of $28,059.

In general, beach lifeguards study at similar levels of education than swim instructors. They're 1.0% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

How a Pool Lifeguard Compares

The third profession we take a look at is pool lifeguard. On an average scale, these workers bring in higher salaries than swim instructors. In fact, they make a $2,459 higher salary per year.

While looking through the resumes of several swim instructors and pool lifeguards we discovered that both professions have similar skills. These similarities include skills such as "cleanliness," "first aid aed," and "emergency situations," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

Some important key differences between the two careers are a few of the skills necessary to fulfill responsibilities. Some examples from swim instructor resumes include skills like "lifeguard," "customer service," "kids," and "work ethic," whereas a pool lifeguard might be skilled in "cpr," "first-aid," "pool deck," and "facility rules. "

Pool lifeguards make a very good living in the education industry with an average annual salary of $29,478. Whereas swim instructors are paid the highest salary in the education industry with the average being $28,059.

When it comes to education, pool lifeguards tend to earn similar education levels than swim instructors. In fact, they're 0.9% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Description Of a Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard

Lifeguards/head lifeguards tend to earn a higher pay than swim instructors by about $2,374 per year.

While their salaries may vary, swim instructors and lifeguards/head lifeguards both use similar skills to perform their jobs. Resumes from both professions include skills like "cleanliness," "customer service," and "first aid aed. "

While some skills are shared by these professions, there are some differences to note. "lifeguard," "kids," "work ethic," and "strong work ethic" are skills that have shown up on swim instructors resumes. Additionally, lifeguard/head lifeguard uses skills like first-aid, aquatic facility, in-service training, and pool maintenance on their resumes.

Now, let's take a closer look at the financials in each career. The education industry tends to pay more for lifeguards/head lifeguards with an average of $29,741. While the highest swim instructor annual salary comes from the education industry.

In general, lifeguards/head lifeguards reach similar levels of education when compared to swim instructors resumes. Lifeguards/head lifeguards are 0.8% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Updated October 2, 2020