The average wage for a lifeguard in the United States is around $0.75 per hour.
Avg Wage
Lifeguards earn an average hourly wage of $0.75.
Salaries typically start from $0.57 per hour and go up to $1.01 per hour.
98% below national average Updated in 2023
Lifeguard earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level lifeguard earnings begin at:
$1.01 per hour
$2,096 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level lifeguard earnings begin at:
$0.88 per hour
$1,828 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level lifeguard earnings begin at:
$0.75 per hour
$1,570 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level lifeguard earnings begin at:
$0.65 per hour
$1,348 per year
10th percentile
Starting level lifeguard earnings begin at:
$0.57 per hour
$1,175 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Lifeguard salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Texas | $5,000 |
| 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 |
| 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 69% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than vehicle cleaners but more than maitres d'.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Vehicle cleaner salary | $9K |
| Nail technician salary | $9K |
| Retail salesperson salary | $6K |
| Landscaper salary | $5K |
| Janitor salary | $4K |
| Lifeguard salary | $2K |
| Maitre d' salary | $1K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)