The average wage for a lifeguard in California is around $16.99 per hour.
Avg Wage
Lifeguards earn an average hourly wage of $16.99.
Salaries typically start from $14.15 per hour and go up to $22.14 per hour.
54% below national average Updated in 2021
Lifeguard earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level lifeguard earnings begin at:
$22.14 per hour
$46,040 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level lifeguard earnings begin at:
$17.89 per hour
$37,210 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level lifeguard earnings begin at:
$16.99 per hour
$35,340 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level lifeguard earnings begin at:
$14.64 per hour
$30,440 per year
10th percentile
Starting level lifeguard earnings begin at:
$14.15 per hour
$29,440 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 about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than concierges but more than nail technicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Concierge salary | $36K |
| Tailor salary | $32K |
| Receptionist salary | $36K |
| Janitor salary | $35K |
| Retail salesperson salary | $31K |
| Lifeguard salary | $35K |
| Recreation worker salary | $31K |
| Vehicle cleaner salary | $30K |
| Maitre d' salary | $30K |
| Nail technician salary | $30K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)