Protective service
Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
Monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes, to provide assistance and protection to participants.
Median pay
$33,580
Growth to 2035
+6%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
45,400
Time to qualify*
1 month
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers: 18% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Patrol or monitor recreational areas, such as trails, slopes, or swimming areas, on foot, in vehicles, or from towers.
- Rescue distressed persons, using rescue techniques and equipment.
- Contact emergency medical personnel in case of serious injury.
- Examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.
- Warn recreational participants of inclement weather, unsafe areas, or illegal conduct.
- Maintain quality of pool water by testing chemical levels.
- Complete and maintain records of weather and beach conditions, emergency medical treatments performed, and other relevant incident information.
- Instruct participants in skiing, swimming, or other recreational activities and provide safety precaution information.
Also called: Beach Attendant · Beach Lifeguard · Lifeguard · Marine Safety Officer · Ocean Lifeguard · Ocean Lifeguard Specialist · Pool Attendant · Pool Lifeguard
Outlook and AI
Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers held 162,000 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 170,800 by 2035 (+6%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers vs. Firefighter
- Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers vs. Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians
- Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers vs. Emergency medical technician
- Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers vs. Recreation worker
- Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers vs. Security guard
- Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers vs. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers vs. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
- Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers vs. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers vs. Occupational health and safety specialists
- Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers vs. Paramedic