Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Worker Salary Information in California

The average annual salaries for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers in the state of California are shown in Table 1. The comparison of the salary statistics of lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers among California metropolitan areas is shown in Table 2. The salary statistics are based on the national compensation survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2022 and published in April 2023 [1].

Table 1 & 2. Annual Salary of Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in California (2022 Survey)

Percentile bracketAverage annual salary
10th Percentile Wage
$29,460
25th Percentile Wage
$30,830
50th Percentile Wage
$34,880
75th Percentile Wage
$38,980
90th Percentile Wage
$45,080

Table 1 shows the average annual salary for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers in California in 5 percentile scales. The average annual salary for the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) is $45,080. The median (50th percentile) annual salary is $34,880. The average annual salary for the bottom 10 percent is $29,460.

Median salary trend (2012 to 2022)

The table and chart below show the trend of the median salary of lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers from 2012 to 2022.

YearMedian SalaryYearly Growth10-Year Growth
2022
$34,880
-1.32% 29.62%
2021
$35,340
5.74% -
2020
$33,310
4.44% -
2019
$31,830
3.20% -
2018
$30,810
2.92% -
2017
$29,910
6.82% -
2016
$27,870
1.18% -
2015
$27,540
10.46% -
2014
$24,660
-4.18% -
2013
$25,690
4.44% -
2012
$24,550
- -

Table 3. Median Annual Salary of Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in California Cities (2022 Survey)

Table 3 shows the median annual salary of lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers in some California cities and metropolitan areas. We note that the median annual salary of lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers in state of California ranges from $24,640 to $38,980. The highest paying area for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers in California is North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area with a median annual salary of $38,980. The second highest paying city/area in California State is Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura (mean annual salary $37,450). The lowest paying area is Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine with a median annual salary of $24,640.

Cities/Areas Median Annual Salary
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$38,980
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
$37,450
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos
$37,350
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
$36,780
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
$36,080
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
$35,990
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale
$35,570
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
$34,730
Napa
$34,640
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
$33,530
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
$33,280
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
$33,260
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$33,250
Fresno
$32,950
Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$32,870
Salinas
$32,650
Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville
$32,480
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$31,640
Stockton
$31,550
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
$31,240
Modesto
$31,160
Vallejo-Fairfield
$30,980
Madera-Chowchilla
$30,700
Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta
$30,290
San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City
$29,980
Redding
$29,490
Chico
$29,340
Bakersfield-Delano
$29,120
Eastern Sierra Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$28,130
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana
$27,670
Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$27,070
Oakland-Fremont-Hayward
$25,340
Visalia-Porterville
$24,680
Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine
$24,640