The average wage for a lifeguard in the United States is around $12.32 per hour.
Avg Wage
Lifeguards earn an average hourly wage of $12.32.
Salaries typically start from $9.22 per hour and go up to $17.57 per hour.
60% below national average Updated in 2021
Lifeguard earnings by seniority
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Lifeguard salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $49,620 |
| Hawaii | $46,860 |
| Alaska | $38,850 |
| California | $35,340 |
| New York | $31,200 |
| Washington | $30,790 |
| Rhode Island | $30,410 |
| Massachusetts | $29,870 |
| Vermont | $29,840 |
| New Jersey | $28,990 |
| Connecticut | $28,930 |
| Arizona | $28,910 |
| Colorado | $28,900 |
| Maryland | $28,400 |
| Minnesota | $28,380 |
| Maine | $28,320 |
| Oregon | $28,240 |
| Illinois | $25,090 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $24,840 |
| Michigan | $24,710 |
| South Dakota | $24,620 |
| New Hampshire | $24,540 |
| Montana | $24,530 |
| Wyoming | $23,970 |
| Nevada | $23,740 |
| Arkansas | $23,720 |
| Delaware | $23,460 |
| Florida | $23,310 |
| Virginia | $22,920 |
| Missouri | $22,900 |
| Wisconsin | $22,820 |
| New Mexico | $22,800 |
| Tennessee | $22,770 |
| Guam | $22,710 |
| Texas | $22,690 |
| Idaho | $22,620 |
| Oklahoma | $22,560 |
| Pennsylvania | $22,360 |
| North Carolina | $22,330 |
| Nebraska | $22,310 |
| Utah | $22,310 |
| Ohio | $22,300 |
| Indiana | $22,140 |
| North Dakota | $22,070 |
| South Carolina | $22,070 |
| Kentucky | $21,910 |
| Louisiana | $21,570 |
| Georgia | $21,530 |
| West Virginia | $20,840 |
| Kansas | $20,420 |
| Alabama | $19,830 |
| Iowa | $19,490 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,790 |
| Mississippi | $18,320 |
How do lifeguard salaries compare to similar careers?
Lifeguards earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than retail salespeople but more than hosts and hostesses.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Retail salesperson salary | $29K |
| Janitor salary | $30K |
| Vehicle cleaner salary | $29K |
| Nail technician salary | $29K |
| Food server salary | $26K |
| Lifeguard salary | $26K |
| Cashier salary | $27K |
| Amusement attendant salary | $24K |
| Host and hostess salary | $25K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)