261 metro areas
Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Worker Salary by City (2026)
Lifeguards earn the most in Kahului, HI, an average of $60,740 a year, against $34,470 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Kahului, HI ($55,520 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.
- US average (mean)
- $34,470BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Highest-paying city
- $60,740Kahului, HI
- Best after cost of living
- $55,520Kahului, HI
- Metro areas
- 261With their own estimate
Top cities
Highest-paying cities for lifeguards
Top 10 metro areas
- Kahului, HI$60,740
- Urban Honolulu, HI$51,540
- Bozeman, MT$50,880
- Los Angeles, CA$46,780
- San Diego, CA$45,240
- San Jose, CA$43,280
- Santa Maria, CA$42,450
- San Francisco, CA$42,080
- Santa Cruz, CA$41,850
- Bakersfield, CA$41,830
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $60,740 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $51,540 |
| Bozeman, MT | $50,880 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,780 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $45,240 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $43,280 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $42,450 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $42,080 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $41,850 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $41,830 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Mean wage ÷ BEA price level
- Kahului, HI$60,740 nominal$55,520
- Bozeman, MT$50,880 nominal$49,630
- Urban Honolulu, HI$51,540 nominal$46,450
- Muskegon, MI$40,730 nominal$44,020
- Crestview, FL$41,140 nominal$42,400
- Sierra Vista, AZ$37,020 nominal$41,480
- Bakersfield, CA$41,830 nominal$41,460
- Los Angeles, CA$46,780 nominal$41,190
- Traverse City, MI$38,310 nominal$41,030
- Barnstable Town, MA$39,830 nominal$40,500
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $55,520 |
| Bozeman, MT | $49,630 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $46,450 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $44,020 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $42,400 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $41,480 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $41,460 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $41,190 |
| Traverse City, MI | $41,030 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $40,500 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024
Every city
Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Worker salary in every metro area
Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.
| # | Metro area | Mean | Entry (Level I) | Experienced (Level IV) | At US prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $60,740 | $47,690 | $67,160 | $55,520 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $51,540 | $33,260 | $60,550 | $46,450 |
| 3 | Bozeman, MT | $50,880 | $40,980 | $55,760 | $49,630 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $46,780 | $36,750 | $51,710 | $41,190 |
| 5 | San Diego, CA | $45,240 | $36,360 | $49,610 | $40,430 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $43,280 | $37,650 | $46,050 | $39,190 |
| 7 | Santa Maria, CA | $42,450 | $34,690 | $46,280 | $39,020 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $42,080 | $36,420 | $44,840 | $36,400 |
| 9 | Santa Cruz, CA | $41,850 | $36,190 | $44,620 | $38,080 |
| 10 | Bakersfield, CA | $41,830 | $34,360 | $45,490 | $41,460 |
| 11 | Riverside, CA | $41,620 | $35,550 | $44,620 | $39,100 |
| 12 | Seattle, WA | $41,580 | $35,960 | $44,350 | $37,410 |
| 13 | Crestview, FL | $41,140 | $31,470 | $45,910 | $42,400 |
| 14 | Muskegon, MI | $40,730 | $33,570 | $44,260 | $44,020 |
| 15 | Fresno, CA | $40,600 | $34,610 | $43,580 | $39,740 |
| 16 | Oxnard, CA | $40,540 | $34,670 | $43,410 | $36,680 |
| 17 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $40,210 | $35,150 | $42,700 | $37,030 |
| 18 | Barnstable Town, MA | $39,830 | $36,050 | $41,700 | $40,500 |
| 19 | Vallejo, CA | $39,730 | $34,990 | $42,060 | $36,620 |
| 20 | Ann Arbor, MI | $39,710 | $31,530 | $43,740 | $39,360 |
| 21 | Naples, FL | $39,230 | $32,800 | $42,390 | $38,010 |
| 22 | Santa Rosa, CA | $39,170 | $35,550 | $40,960 | $36,340 |
| 23 | Panama City, FL | $38,810 | $33,200 | $41,580 | $39,890 |
| 24 | Sebastian, FL | $38,730 | $30,100 | $42,970 | $39,400 |
| 25 | Austin, TX | $38,630 | $30,410 | $42,660 | $39,390 |
| 26 | Miami, FL | $38,630 | $30,490 | $42,620 | $33,840 |
| 27 | Sacramento, CA | $38,580 | $34,380 | $40,660 | $36,170 |
| 28 | Boston, MA-NH | $38,360 | $33,240 | $40,870 | $35,430 |
| 29 | Traverse City, MI | $38,310 | $30,430 | $42,180 | $41,030 |
| 30 | Deltona, FL | $38,270 | $31,600 | $41,540 | $38,510 |
| 31 | New York, NY-NJ | $38,190 | $33,280 | $40,620 | $33,930 |
| 32 | Atlantic City, NJ | $37,980 | $33,510 | $40,190 | $38,420 |
| 33 | Bellingham, WA | $37,960 | $35,070 | $39,370 | $36,740 |
| 34 | Bremerton, WA | $37,860 | $34,960 | $39,270 | $35,850 |
| 35 | Stockton, CA | $37,860 | $35,650 | $38,940 | $36,030 |
| 36 | Flagstaff, AZ | $37,750 | $31,740 | $40,730 | $37,630 |
| 37 | Bend, OR | $37,650 | $34,800 | $39,060 | $36,340 |
| 38 | Waterbury, CT | $37,460 | $34,030 | $39,150 | $37,540 |
| 39 | Hartford, CT | $37,380 | $34,130 | $38,980 | $36,380 |
| 40 | Salinas, CA | $37,340 | $34,320 | $38,810 | $34,240 |
| 41 | Kennewick, WA | $37,270 | $35,030 | $38,380 | $37,240 |
| 42 | Bridgeport, CT | $37,090 | $34,010 | $38,580 | $34,710 |
| 43 | Modesto, CA | $37,090 | $35,090 | $38,060 | $35,630 |
| 44 | Portland, ME | $37,040 | $33,300 | $38,900 | $36,360 |
| 45 | Sierra Vista, AZ | $37,020 | $34,420 | $38,310 | $41,480 |
| 46 | Portland, OR-WA | $36,960 | $33,360 | $38,750 | $35,060 |
| 47 | Olympia, WA | $36,860 | $34,740 | $37,900 | $35,560 |
| 48 | Yakima, WA | $36,860 | $34,650 | $37,960 | $38,580 |
| 49 | Boulder, CO | $36,800 | $34,690 | $37,840 | $34,980 |
| 50 | Chico, CA | $36,710 | $34,320 | $37,900 | $36,280 |
| 51 | Norwich, CT | $36,690 | $34,050 | $38,000 | $36,530 |
| 52 | Denver, CO | $36,520 | $33,430 | $38,060 | $34,520 |
| 53 | New Haven, CT | $36,420 | $34,050 | $37,590 | $34,830 |
| 54 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $36,420 | $27,160 | $40,980 | $36,340 |
| 55 | North Port, FL | $36,380 | $30,370 | $39,330 | $35,520 |
| 56 | Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $36,380 | $30,390 | $39,310 | $33,410 |
| 57 | Trenton, NJ | $36,340 | $32,640 | $38,150 | $35,220 |
| 58 | Pittsfield, MA | $36,170 | $32,510 | $37,980 | $38,030 |
| 59 | Medford, OR | $36,130 | $32,120 | $38,130 | $35,620 |
| 60 | Providence, RI-MA | $35,960 | $32,590 | $37,630 | $35,330 |
| 61 | Worcester, MA | $35,960 | $32,260 | $37,770 | $35,080 |
| 62 | Tucson, AZ | $35,760 | $33,260 | $36,980 | $36,910 |
| 63 | Amherst Town, MA | $35,730 | $32,930 | $37,110 | $35,640 |
| 64 | Kingston, NY | $35,690 | $32,240 | $37,400 | $35,440 |
| 65 | El Centro, CA | $35,670 | $34,320 | $36,340 | $37,480 |
| 66 | Buffalo, NY | $35,630 | $32,550 | $37,130 | $37,170 |
| 67 | Spokane, WA | $35,420 | $34,650 | $35,780 | $35,300 |
| 68 | Pensacola, FL | $35,360 | $28,950 | $38,520 | $36,190 |
| 69 | Rochester, NY | $35,340 | $32,700 | $36,650 | $36,420 |
| 70 | Prescott Valley, AZ | $35,260 | $30,640 | $37,520 | $35,890 |
| 71 | Kiryas Joel, NY | $34,900 | $32,280 | $36,210 | $31,890 |
| 72 | Syracuse, NY | $34,860 | $32,240 | $36,150 | $36,410 |
| 73 | Phoenix, AZ | $34,740 | $30,950 | $36,610 | $33,620 |
| 74 | Greeley, CO | $34,630 | $31,300 | $36,250 | $34,570 |
| 75 | Tampa, FL | $34,590 | $28,750 | $37,480 | $34,280 |
| 76 | Ithaca, NY | $34,570 | $33,090 | $35,300 | $33,460 |
| 77 | Salt Lake City, UT | $34,530 | $27,370 | $38,060 | $34,230 |
| 78 | Bloomington, IL | $34,490 | $31,600 | $35,900 | $36,870 |
| 79 | Burlington, VT | $34,470 | $31,740 | $35,800 | $34,150 |
| 80 | Jacksonville, FL | $34,440 | $29,140 | $37,040 | $34,620 |
| 81 | Chicago, IL-IN | $34,340 | $30,890 | $36,030 | $33,150 |
| 82 | Ogden, UT | $34,340 | $25,360 | $38,770 | $34,220 |
| 83 | Springfield, MA | $34,320 | $31,410 | $35,780 | $35,730 |
| 84 | York, PA | $34,110 | $24,810 | $38,710 | $35,530 |
| 85 | Palm Bay, FL | $33,920 | $29,830 | $35,940 | $33,920 |
| 86 | Chambersburg, PA | $33,860 | $24,270 | $38,580 | $35,780 |
| 87 | Watertown, NY | $33,840 | $32,910 | $34,320 | $38,590 |
| 88 | Albany, NY | $33,800 | $32,240 | $34,570 | $33,950 |
| 89 | Baltimore, MD | $33,800 | $31,280 | $35,030 | $32,350 |
| 90 | Fort Collins, CO | $33,760 | $31,430 | $34,900 | $33,380 |
| 91 | Salem, OR | $33,610 | $30,410 | $35,190 | $32,430 |
| 92 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | $33,530 | $30,580 | $34,990 | $35,630 |
| 93 | Bangor, ME | $33,490 | $31,010 | $34,690 | $34,700 |
| 94 | Minneapolis, MN-WI | $33,470 | $28,020 | $36,150 | $31,930 |
| 95 | Utica, NY | $33,470 | $32,240 | $34,070 | $36,110 |
| 96 | Binghamton, NY | $33,430 | $32,240 | $34,010 | $36,000 |
| 97 | Allentown, PA-NJ | $33,030 | $26,420 | $36,300 | $33,040 |
| 98 | Michigan City, IN | $33,010 | $22,130 | $38,380 | $36,000 |
| 99 | Rockford, IL | $32,950 | $31,200 | $33,800 | $35,760 |
| 100 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $32,860 | $27,810 | $35,360 | $36,260 |
| 101 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $32,840 | $28,270 | $35,090 | $36,020 |
| 102 | Reno, NV | $32,840 | $30,120 | $34,200 | $32,510 |
| 103 | Orlando, FL | $32,800 | $29,200 | $34,570 | $32,340 |
| 104 | Colorado Springs, CO | $32,760 | $30,870 | $33,720 | $32,530 |
| 105 | Ocala, FL | $32,700 | $27,830 | $35,090 | $34,340 |
| 106 | Grand Junction, CO | $32,680 | $30,800 | $33,590 | $34,230 |
| 107 | Atlanta, GA | $32,640 | $26,810 | $35,480 | $32,620 |
| 108 | Albany, OR | $32,610 | $30,830 | $33,490 | $31,940 |
| 109 | Rapid City, SD | $32,610 | $29,620 | $34,070 | $36,570 |
| 110 | Anchorage, AK | $32,590 | $24,770 | $36,440 | $30,910 |
| 111 | Kenosha, WI | $32,550 | $26,400 | $35,590 | $32,190 |
| 112 | Midland, TX | $32,530 | $28,600 | $34,470 | $33,960 |
| 113 | Eugene, OR | $32,390 | $31,120 | $33,010 | $31,890 |
| 114 | Fayetteville, NC | $32,280 | $26,100 | $35,320 | $35,100 |
| 115 | Springfield, IL | $32,260 | $31,200 | $32,780 | $34,780 |
| 116 | Peoria, IL | $32,240 | $31,200 | $32,740 | $35,340 |
| 117 | Charlottesville, VA | $32,220 | $28,790 | $33,900 | $32,500 |
| 118 | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $32,160 | $27,410 | $34,510 | $31,360 |
| 119 | Harrisonburg, VA | $32,140 | $28,290 | $34,030 | $33,870 |
| 120 | Daphne, AL | $32,050 | $28,640 | $33,740 | $33,850 |
| 121 | Savannah, GA | $32,050 | $28,040 | $34,030 | $33,660 |
| 122 | Yuma, AZ | $31,890 | $30,580 | $32,530 | $34,400 |
| 123 | Madison, WI | $31,700 | $25,420 | $34,800 | $32,580 |
| 124 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $31,530 | $29,120 | $32,740 | $33,160 |
| 125 | Duluth, MN-WI | $31,450 | $27,600 | $33,340 | $35,430 |
| 126 | Detroit, MI | $31,390 | $26,600 | $33,760 | $31,300 |
| 127 | Hagerstown, MD-WV | $31,370 | $26,350 | $33,820 | $33,310 |
| 128 | Niles, MI | $31,240 | $27,120 | $33,280 | $33,820 |
| 129 | Las Vegas, NV | $31,080 | $27,710 | $32,760 | $31,010 |
| 130 | Elkhart, IN | $31,050 | $27,640 | $32,760 | $34,380 |
| 131 | Blacksburg, VA | $30,990 | $27,250 | $32,820 | $33,430 |
| 132 | Charleston, SC | $30,970 | $23,420 | $34,690 | $30,670 |
| 133 | Columbus, OH | $30,890 | $25,400 | $33,610 | $32,360 |
| 134 | Sandusky, OH | $30,800 | $27,750 | $32,300 | $34,500 |
| 135 | Grand Rapids, MI | $30,700 | $26,730 | $32,680 | $32,130 |
| 136 | Green Bay, WI | $30,660 | $26,850 | $32,510 | $32,940 |
| 137 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $30,640 | $24,170 | $33,820 | $32,130 |
| 138 | Lafayette, IN | $30,620 | $27,520 | $32,140 | $32,770 |
| 139 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $30,600 | $27,520 | $32,120 | $33,070 |
| 140 | Charlotte, NC-SC | $30,470 | $23,710 | $33,800 | $31,300 |
| 141 | Roanoke, VA | $30,450 | $27,290 | $32,010 | $32,530 |
| 142 | Lincoln, NE | $30,430 | $28,120 | $31,550 | $33,230 |
| 143 | Winchester, VA-WV | $30,350 | $27,390 | $31,800 | $31,470 |
| 144 | Fargo, ND-MN | $30,310 | $26,790 | $32,030 | $33,350 |
| 145 | Lansing, MI | $30,120 | $27,020 | $31,640 | $31,710 |
| 146 | Omaha, NE-IA | $30,040 | $27,190 | $31,430 | $32,680 |
| 147 | Richmond, VA | $30,040 | $27,500 | $31,280 | $30,700 |
| 148 | St. Cloud, MN | $30,010 | $23,960 | $33,010 | $34,250 |
| 149 | Milwaukee, WI | $29,990 | $24,670 | $32,640 | $30,940 |
| 150 | Durham, NC | $29,970 | $24,540 | $32,660 | $30,720 |
| 151 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $29,970 | $22,820 | $33,490 | $32,000 |
| 152 | Dallas, TX | $29,930 | $25,250 | $32,240 | $29,030 |
| 153 | Virginia Beach, VA-NC | $29,930 | $26,580 | $31,570 | $30,560 |
| 154 | Albuquerque, NM | $29,850 | $28,100 | $30,700 | $31,240 |
| 155 | El Paso, TX | $29,760 | $23,750 | $32,740 | $33,100 |
| 156 | Erie, PA | $29,720 | $25,940 | $31,600 | $32,680 |
| 157 | Harrisburg, PA | $29,700 | $24,290 | $32,360 | $30,110 |
| 158 | Killeen, TX | $29,660 | $26,920 | $31,010 | $32,550 |
| 159 | Iowa City, IA | $29,640 | $24,400 | $32,220 | $32,390 |
| 160 | Rochester, MN | $29,620 | $25,770 | $31,510 | $32,610 |
| 161 | La Crosse, WI-MN | $29,540 | $25,540 | $31,490 | $32,190 |
| 162 | Springfield, MO | $29,540 | $28,600 | $29,990 | $33,350 |
| 163 | Bay City, MI | $29,520 | $25,960 | $31,260 | $32,110 |
| 164 | Kalamazoo, MI | $29,410 | $25,960 | $31,100 | $31,010 |
| 165 | South Bend, IN-MI | $29,310 | $24,960 | $31,450 | $31,560 |
| 166 | Boise City, ID | $29,220 | $26,730 | $30,450 | $29,700 |
| 167 | San Antonio, TX | $29,220 | $24,560 | $31,530 | $30,850 |
| 168 | Indianapolis, IN | $29,200 | $25,750 | $30,910 | $30,510 |
| 169 | Cleveland, OH | $29,140 | $25,040 | $31,160 | $31,030 |
| 170 | Appleton, WI | $29,120 | $24,320 | $31,470 | $31,510 |
| 171 | Fort Wayne, IN | $29,100 | $23,110 | $32,050 | $31,430 |
| 172 | Oshkosh, WI | $29,020 | $26,560 | $30,220 | $31,230 |
| 173 | Gainesville, GA | $28,910 | $27,540 | $29,600 | $29,880 |
| 174 | Greenville, NC | $28,910 | $24,090 | $31,280 | $32,700 |
| 175 | Bismarck, ND | $28,850 | $25,580 | $30,470 | $31,690 |
| 176 | Flint, MI | $28,830 | $27,140 | $29,640 | $30,990 |
| 177 | Lancaster, PA | $28,830 | $24,730 | $30,830 | $29,340 |
| 178 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $28,810 | $26,080 | $30,160 | $33,320 |
| 179 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $28,790 | $22,860 | $31,700 | $30,930 |
| 180 | Lynchburg, VA | $28,680 | $26,190 | $29,910 | $32,090 |
| 181 | Little Rock, AR | $28,660 | $24,770 | $30,580 | $32,070 |
| 182 | Davenport, IA-IL | $28,640 | $24,630 | $30,620 | $32,150 |
| 183 | Akron, OH | $28,580 | $24,210 | $30,740 | $30,610 |
| 184 | Scranton, PA | $28,520 | $22,460 | $31,510 | $30,480 |
| 185 | Greensboro, NC | $28,410 | $22,280 | $31,430 | $30,590 |
| 186 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $28,390 | $22,320 | $31,410 | $32,760 |
| 187 | Nashville, TN | $28,310 | $25,540 | $29,680 | $29,390 |
| 188 | Burlington, NC | $28,250 | $22,130 | $31,260 | $30,310 |
| 189 | Longview, TX | $28,250 | $21,690 | $31,470 | $31,570 |
| 190 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $28,200 | $22,650 | $30,950 | $31,700 |
| 191 | Wilmington, NC | $28,200 | $19,200 | $32,660 | $29,250 |
| 192 | Pittsburgh, PA | $28,180 | $23,440 | $30,530 | $29,770 |
| 193 | Lexington, KY | $28,140 | $22,110 | $31,100 | $30,290 |
| 194 | Eau Claire, WI | $28,120 | $24,340 | $29,990 | $30,300 |
| 195 | Raleigh, NC | $28,100 | $24,290 | $29,990 | $28,630 |
| 196 | Athens, GA | $28,080 | $25,130 | $29,560 | $30,080 |
| 197 | Corpus Christi, TX | $28,060 | $21,840 | $31,120 | $30,280 |
| 198 | Houston, TX | $28,040 | $23,250 | $30,390 | $28,430 |
| 199 | Huntsville, AL | $28,020 | $22,980 | $30,510 | $30,110 |
| 200 | Fayetteville, AR | $27,980 | $24,400 | $29,720 | $30,630 |
| 201 | Asheville, NC | $27,770 | $23,800 | $29,720 | $28,780 |
| 202 | Topeka, KS | $27,730 | $25,210 | $28,970 | $31,220 |
| 203 | Birmingham, AL | $27,620 | $23,800 | $29,490 | $30,140 |
| 204 | Jackson, MI | $27,500 | $25,960 | $28,270 | $29,960 |
| 205 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $27,250 | $23,590 | $29,060 | $29,790 |
| 206 | Columbia, SC | $27,250 | $21,130 | $30,280 | $29,090 |
| 207 | Janesville, WI | $27,140 | $24,110 | $28,620 | $28,960 |
| 208 | Reading, PA | $27,140 | $23,050 | $29,160 | $27,960 |
| 209 | Knoxville, TN | $27,080 | $23,800 | $28,700 | $29,250 |
| 210 | St. George, UT | $27,060 | $22,090 | $29,520 | $27,800 |
| 211 | Muncie, IN | $27,020 | $22,150 | $29,410 | $30,650 |
| 212 | Provo, UT | $26,980 | $23,710 | $28,580 | $27,470 |
| 213 | Columbus, GA-AL | $26,850 | $22,460 | $29,020 | $30,070 |
| 214 | Evansville, IN | $26,810 | $23,940 | $28,200 | $29,290 |
| 215 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $26,810 | $23,320 | $28,560 | $29,080 |
| 216 | Winston, NC | $26,710 | $21,840 | $29,080 | $29,020 |
| 217 | Lake Charles, LA | $26,400 | $21,760 | $28,700 | $30,750 |
| 218 | Wausau, WI | $26,400 | $22,760 | $28,180 | $28,490 |
| 219 | Gulfport, MS | $26,350 | $21,880 | $28,580 | $29,280 |
| 220 | Brunswick, GA | $26,330 | $21,670 | $28,640 | $30,020 |
| 221 | Terre Haute, IN | $26,190 | $22,570 | $27,980 | $29,830 |
| 222 | Altoona, PA | $26,150 | $20,470 | $28,930 | $29,220 |
| 223 | Brownsville, TX | $26,100 | $21,840 | $28,200 | $30,360 |
| 224 | Des Moines, IA | $26,100 | $21,200 | $28,520 | $28,460 |
| 225 | Lima, OH | $26,040 | $25,060 | $26,520 | $29,040 |
| 226 | College Station, TX | $26,020 | $24,750 | $26,620 | $28,610 |
| 227 | New Orleans, LA | $26,020 | $21,960 | $28,020 | $28,100 |
| 228 | McAllen, TX | $25,960 | $20,650 | $28,580 | $30,220 |
| 229 | Charleston, WV | $25,940 | $21,090 | $28,330 | $29,240 |
| 230 | Dayton, OH | $25,940 | $22,710 | $27,540 | $27,980 |
| 231 | Cleveland, TN | $25,920 | $22,960 | $27,350 | $29,430 |
| 232 | Augusta, GA-SC | $25,810 | $20,260 | $28,540 | $28,080 |
| 233 | Toledo, OH | $25,730 | $22,730 | $27,210 | $28,130 |
| 234 | Kingsport, TN-VA | $25,690 | $21,550 | $27,730 | $29,720 |
| 235 | Sherman, TX | $25,650 | $23,980 | $26,460 | $27,350 |
| 236 | Youngstown, OH | $25,580 | $22,760 | $26,960 | $29,270 |
| 237 | Spartanburg, SC | $25,440 | $18,970 | $28,640 | $27,940 |
| 238 | Ames, IA | $25,270 | $21,690 | $27,040 | $28,450 |
| 239 | Bowling Green, KY | $25,170 | $19,340 | $28,040 | $27,910 |
| 240 | Oklahoma City, OK | $24,900 | $22,510 | $26,080 | $27,540 |
| 241 | Canton, OH | $24,880 | $22,400 | $26,100 | $27,830 |
| 242 | Springfield, OH | $24,650 | $22,260 | $25,830 | $27,240 |
| 243 | Idaho Falls, ID | $24,560 | $22,800 | $25,440 | $26,010 |
| 244 | Waterloo, IA | $24,540 | $22,130 | $25,730 | $28,190 |
| 245 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $24,460 | $22,360 | $25,500 | $27,690 |
| 246 | Columbus, IN | $24,400 | $21,530 | $25,810 | $26,240 |
| 247 | Hickory, NC | $24,400 | $21,760 | $25,690 | $27,570 |
| 248 | Huntington, WV-KY-OH | $24,340 | $20,700 | $26,150 | $27,530 |
| 249 | Tulsa, OK | $24,340 | $21,690 | $25,650 | $27,280 |
| 250 | San Juan, PR | $24,290 | $21,840 | $25,500 | N/A |
| 251 | Shreveport, LA | $24,250 | $20,550 | $26,080 | $28,610 |
| 252 | Baton Rouge, LA | $24,020 | $21,340 | $25,360 | $26,460 |
| 253 | Jackson, MS | $24,020 | $20,720 | $25,650 | $26,970 |
| 254 | Mansfield, OH | $23,920 | $22,260 | $24,750 | $26,920 |
| 255 | Montgomery, AL | $23,920 | $19,050 | $26,330 | $26,670 |
| 256 | Greenville, SC | $23,900 | $19,260 | $26,190 | $25,630 |
| 257 | Pinehurst, NC | $23,520 | $21,470 | $24,520 | $26,630 |
| 258 | Amarillo, TX | $23,420 | $21,780 | $24,230 | $25,510 |
| 259 | Morristown, TN | $23,300 | $20,380 | $24,750 | $26,980 |
| 260 | Slidell, LA | $22,780 | $20,630 | $23,840 | $24,570 |
| 261 | Lafayette, LA | $22,030 | $20,300 | $22,880 | $25,260 |
More
More on lifeguards
Method
About these numbers
- Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
- Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
- OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
- At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.
Questions
Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Worker salary by city: FAQ
Which city pays lifeguards the most?
Kahului, HI, where the average (mean) wage is $60,740 a year, followed by Urban Honolulu, HI ($51,540), Bozeman, MT ($50,880), Los Angeles, CA ($46,780). The national mean is $34,470 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where do lifeguards earn the most after cost of living?
Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Kahului, HI ($55,520 at national prices, $60,740 nominal), Bozeman, MT ($49,630 at national prices, $50,880 nominal), Urban Honolulu, HI ($46,450 at national prices, $51,540 nominal).
How much do lifeguards make in the biggest cities?
New York, NY-NJ: $38,190; Los Angeles, CA: $46,780; Chicago, IL-IN: $34,340; Dallas, TX: $29,930; Houston, TX: $28,040 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).
Where do lifeguards earn the least?
Of the 261 metro areas with their own estimate, Lafayette, LA has the lowest mean wage, $22,030. At local prices that is worth $25,260.