Water safety instructor vs certified lifeguard

The differences between water safety instructors and certified lifeguards can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a certified lifeguard has an average salary of $28,264, which is higher than the $27,408 average annual salary of a water safety instructor.

The top three skills for a water safety instructor include learn-to-swim, aquatic facility and head lifeguard. The most important skills for a certified lifeguard are first-aid, water safety, and in-service training.

Water safety instructor vs certified lifeguard overview

	Water Safety Instructor	Certified Lifeguard
Yearly salary	$27,408	$28,264
Hourly rate	$13.18	$13.59
Growth rate	19%	-
Number of jobs	44,102	36,332
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 69%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age	26	26
Years of experience	-	-

Water safety instructor vs certified lifeguard salary

Water safety instructors and certified lifeguards have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Water Safety Instructor	Certified Lifeguard
Average salary	$27,408	$28,264
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $35,000	Between $22,000 And $35,000
Highest paying City	Utica, NY	-
Highest paying state	Washington	-
Best paying company	Pace University	-
Best paying industry	Education	-

Differences between water safety instructor and certified lifeguard education

There are a few differences between a water safety instructor and a certified lifeguard in terms of educational background:

	Water Safety Instructor	Certified Lifeguard
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 69%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common major	Psychology	Business
Most common college	-	-

Water safety instructor vs certified lifeguard demographics

Here are the differences between water safety instructors' and certified lifeguards' demographics:

	Water Safety Instructor	Certified Lifeguard
Average age	26	26
Gender ratio	Male, 39.0% Female, 61.0%	Male, 49.7% Female, 50.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 7.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.6% Asian, 4.3% White, 68.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 7.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% Asian, 4.3% White, 68.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between water safety instructor and certified lifeguard duties and responsibilities

Water safety instructor example responsibilities.

Examine injure persons and administer first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.
Examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary.
Work on-site to cover HUD and OSHA inspector protocol, EPA regulations, and OSHA policies, practice and procedures.
Substitute for yoga and water aerobics as needed
Assist and maintain associated paperwork and documentation to ensure OSHA compliance.
Maintain general appearance and cleanliness of assign area and perform general housekeeping of assign area; maintain water safety equipment.

Certified lifeguard example responsibilities.

Acquire skills in CPR, safety regulations, leadership and responsibility
Work as a beach patrol lifeguard for several summers (2007 and 2008) amounting to 6 months.
Perform rescues and administer first-aid in emergency situations.
Provide first responder first aid when necessary.
Implement basic first aid and first responder procedures.
Coordinate swim meets and ensure that they run smoothly.

Water safety instructor vs certified lifeguard skills

Common water safety instructor skills

Learn-To-Swim, 13%
Aquatic Facility, 11%
Head Lifeguard, 11%
In-Service Training, 7%
Safety Regulations, 5%
Customer Service, 5%

Common certified lifeguard skills

First-Aid, 39%
Water Safety, 17%
In-Service Training, 7%
Rescue Techniques, 7%
Professional Attitude, 3%
Emergency Situations, 2%

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Water Safety Instructor
Water Safety Instructor vs Certified Lifeguard

Updated January 8, 2025

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