Provides emergency care, rescue, and avalanche control on ski area terrain, and keeps runs marked and safe for skiers and riders. BLS does not publish separate figures for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers; it counts them within lifeguard, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service worker (SOC 33-9092), whose median pay is $33,580 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 33-9092
- Protective Service
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Ski Patroller in four numbers
- Median pay
- $33,580a year, or $16.14/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $26KTop 10% $44K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.5%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 45,400162,000 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025162K
- Projected 2035170.8K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 162K Projected 2035 170.8K - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school39.2%
- High school21.1%
- Certificate17.3%
- Some college5.1%
- Associate's16.1%
- Bachelor's1.2%
Highest education held by lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers Segment Value Less than high school 39.2% High school 21.1% Certificate 17.3% Some college 5.1% Associate's 16.1% Bachelor's 1.2%
Also advertised as: Professional Ski Patroller, Ski Patrol Supervisor, Snow Safety Patroller, Mountain Safety Patroller, Volunteer Ski Patroller.
Pay
How much do Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers make?
Every ski patroller in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$33,580
Middle half earn $28,880 to $37,520
- 10th
- $25,780
- 25th
- $28,880
- 75th
- $37,520
- 90th
- $43,970
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $25,780 |
| 25th | $28,880 |
| Median | $33,580 |
| 75th | $37,520 |
| 90th | $43,970 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $33,580
- Median hourly wage
- $16.14/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $34,470
- People employed
- 157,550
Versus all US occupations
At $33,580, Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers earn 34% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $17,400 a year.
Versus protective service occupations
Inside the Protective Service group, where the middle occupation pays $74,060, this is 55% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $43,970 or more while the bottom 10% earn $25,780, a gap of 1.7×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 0% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $60,400, and still leads at $54,959 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $60,400 | $54,959 | 290 |
| 2Hawaii | $52,630 | $47,867 | 720 |
| 3California | $42,720 | $38,584 | 22,620 |
| 4Washington | $37,770 | $35,295 | 4,720 |
| 5Montana | $37,750 | $39,886 | 270 |
| 6Massachusetts | $36,650 | $34,655 | 2,640 |
| 7New York | $36,590 | $33,904 | 8,740 |
| 8Vermont | $36,030 | $36,781 | 310 |
| 9Connecticut | $35,960 | $34,707 | 1,510 |
| 10Rhode Island | $35,770 | $34,973 | 370 |
Job outlook
Is Ski Patroller a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.5% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | +5.5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers to change 5.5% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 8,900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 45,400 openings are projected each year, 28.0% of the 162,000 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Ski Patroller
Most patrollers need Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) certification from the National Ski Patrol (NSP), a course designed for the outdoor setting, plus CPR. Strong skiing or riding ability is tested in hiring, including toboggan handling in steep terrain. Some resorts prefer or require an EMT certification.
Patrollers who do avalanche work need avalanche training through American Avalanche Association pathways, and those who handle explosives need a blaster certification as required by their state. Many people start as volunteer patrollers through NSP before moving to paid positions, and the Professional Ski Patrol Association connects paid patrollers.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers.
- Less than a High School Diploma39.2%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)21.1%
- Post-Secondary Certificate17.3%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree16.1%
- Some College Courses5.1%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Less than a High School Diploma | 39.2% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 21.1% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 17.3% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 16.1% |
| Some College Courses | 5.1% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Ski Patroller do?
Ski patrollers are the emergency responders of a ski area. They respond to injured skiers, provide first aid on the slope, package patients in toboggans, and transport them to the base or to waiting ambulances. They also open and close terrain, mark hazards, set ropes and signs, and sweep runs at the end of the day.
At resorts with avalanche terrain, patrollers do avalanche control work: assessing snowpack, using explosives to trigger slides before the public arrives, and performing avalanche rescues when needed. They also assist with lift evacuations and search for lost skiers.
Day-to-day tasks
- Respond to injured skiers and provide on-slope emergency care
- Transport patients by toboggan to base or ambulance
- Open, close, and mark terrain and hazards
- Perform avalanche control with explosives and ski cutting
- Conduct avalanche and lost-person searches
- Assist with lift evacuations
- Sweep runs at closing to ensure everyone is off the mountain
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Patrollers work outdoors all day in cold, wind, and storms, starting early to prepare terrain before lifts open. The work is seasonal and physically demanding, with heavy toboggans, explosives work, and long hours on storm days. Many patrollers have other jobs in the summer.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Monitoring3.8
- Speaking3.5
- Active Listening3.1
- Learning Strategies3.1
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Active Learning2.8
- Writing2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Speaking | 3.5 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.9 |
| Active Learning | 2.8 |
| Writing | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.4
- Service Orientation3.3
- Coordination3.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Instructing2.8
- Persuasion2.5
- Time Management2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.4 |
| Service Orientation | 3.3 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Instructing | 2.8 |
| Persuasion | 2.5 |
| Time Management | 2.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software
- Instant messaging software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Ski Patroller?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RSI) built on O*NET's Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Worker profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Ski Patroller |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 5 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
- Realistic6.3
- Social4.7
- Conventional3.4
- Investigative3.2
- Enterprising2.9
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Ski Patroller
O*NET related occupations
- Protective Service
Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Worker
$33,580median a year
Most earn $26K to $44K
+5.5%No formal credential - Protective Service
- Transportation and Material Moving
Ambulance Driver and Attendant, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
$35,450median a year
Most earn $27K to $46K
−1.3%High school - Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Personal Care and Service
- Protective Service
More protective service careers
Median annual pay, with lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers highlighted
- Detective and Criminal Investigator$93,790
- Intelligence Analyst$93,790
- Police Officer$76,210
- Custom and Border Protection Officer$76,210
- Firefighter$59,280
- Correctional Officer and Jailer$58,940
- Private Detective and Investigator$51,220
- Security Guard$38,020
- Ski Patroller$33,580
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Detective and Criminal Investigator | $93,790 |
| Intelligence Analyst | $93,790 |
| Police Officer | $76,210 |
| Custom and Border Protection Officer | $76,210 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 |
| Correctional Officer and Jailer | $58,940 |
| Private Detective and Investigator | $51,220 |
| Security Guard | $38,020 |
| Ski Patroller | $33,580 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Ski Patroller appears on
Questions
Ski Patroller: frequently asked questions
How much do Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers. It counts them within lifeguard, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service worker, whose median pay is $33,580 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $28,880 and $37,520, and the top 10% earn $43,970 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Ski Patroller?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as little or no preparation. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 39.2% hold less than a high school diploma.
Is Ski Patroller a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.5% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 45,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Ski Patroller do?
Ski patrollers are the emergency responders of a ski area. A typical task: respond to injured skiers and provide on-slope emergency care. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Presentation software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers the most?
The highest state medians for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers are District of Columbia ($60,400), Hawaii ($52,630), California ($42,720) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Ski Patroller?
O*NET scores Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers highest on the Realistic, Social and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISFJ, ISTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.