Occupation · SOC 33-9092
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 wage
$33,720
$24,860–$44,600
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
143,590
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
12 mapped
Core skills
MonitoringSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationLearning StrategiesActive ListeningJudgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingCoordinationComplex Problem SolvingReading ComprehensionInstructingActive LearningWritingPersuasionTime ManagementOperations MonitoringSystems EvaluationNegotiationManagement of Personnel ResourcesSystems AnalysisQuality Control AnalysisTroubleshootingScienceOperation and ControlMathematicsEquipment SelectionRepairingOperations AnalysisManagement of Material ResourcesEquipment MaintenanceManagement of Financial ResourcesTechnology DesignProgrammingInstallation
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServicePublic Safety and SecurityEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingMedicine and DentistryPsychologyAdministration and ManagementChemistryTherapy and CounselingForeign LanguageLaw and GovernmentPersonnel and Human ResourcesAdministrativeTelecommunicationsSociology and AnthropologyCommunications and MediaComputers and ElectronicsMechanicalBiologyMathematicsTransportationPhysicsSales and MarketingGeographyPhilosophy and TheologyProduction and ProcessingBuilding and ConstructionEngineering and TechnologyEconomics and AccountingDesignFine ArtsHistory and ArcheologyFood Production
Technology & tools
GroupMeMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft PublisherMicrosoft Word
Representative tasks
Assisting and Caring for OthersPerforming General Physical ActivitiesPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsDocumenting/Recording InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsGetting InformationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsTraining and Teaching OthersMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoaching and Developing OthersOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkHandling and Moving ObjectsDeveloping and Building TeamsProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleProcessing InformationResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsControlling Machines and ProcessesScheduling Work and ActivitiesThinking CreativelyInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentWorking with ComputersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesStaffing Organizational UnitsPerforming Administrative ActivitiesAnalyzing Data or InformationSelling or Influencing OthersDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Recreational area boundaries and patrol routes — identify and follow under direct supervisor guidance during assigned shifts at an aquatic or outdoor facility.Basic rescue techniques and flotation equipment — demonstrate correct deployment under direct instructor observation in controlled pool or training scenarios.Emergency medical personnel contact procedures — initiate calls and relay essential incident information following facility protocols with supervisor oversight.First aid supplies and CPR procedures — apply foundational techniques on training mannequins or simulated casualties under certified instructor direction.Weather warning and hazard communication scripts — deliver to recreational participants using pre-approved language under supervisor guidance at a monitored area.Pool water chemical test kits — use to collect and record pH and chlorine readings following step-by-step facility checklists.Incident report forms and daily log templates — complete with weather conditions, patron counts, and basic observations using facility-provided documentation tools.Swimming and recreational safety precautions — communicate to participants using facility-prepared handouts and signage under staff direction.Patron behavior patterns and potential hazards — recognize common risk indicators on a pool deck or trail using basic monitoring checklists.Facility communication tools including instant messaging and email software — use to receive shift assignments and relay routine updates to supervisors.
developing
Assigned patrol zones including trails, slopes, and swimming areas — monitor independently on foot or from towers during full shifts with minimal supervisor check-ins.Water and terrain rescue techniques and equipment — execute with confidence in routine distress situations at a community pool or recreational park.Emergency medical services coordination — manage initial contact and information handoff to EMS personnel during injury incidents without supervisor prompting.First aid assessment and CPR — perform on injured or unresponsive patrons in live-incident conditions using on-site medical supplies and trained judgment.Inclement weather alerts and unsafe area warnings — deliver proactively to recreational participants across a full venue based on real-time observation and facility weather protocols.Pool water chemistry test results — analyze, adjust chemical dosages, and document findings routinely within established safety parameters.Incident records and shift logs — complete accurately and submit on time using spreadsheet and word processing software, capturing all required medical and environmental data.Safety instruction for swimming or skiing activities — provide to small groups of participants using clear spoken explanations adapted to varying skill levels.Patron distress signals and behavioral cues — identify quickly through sustained selective attention across a busy recreational environment.Coordination with co-workers on overlapping patrol coverage — maintain through radio communication and shift briefings to ensure consistent area surveillance.
proficient
Complex multi-zone patrol operations covering trails, slopes, and water areas — oversee and execute autonomously, adjusting patrol patterns in response to crowd levels and environmental changes.Advanced water and terrain rescue scenarios involving multiple victims or hazardous conditions — lead on-scene response using full range of rescue equipment and techniques.Serious injury triage and emergency services liaison — manage autonomously, prioritizing interventions and communicating patient status to EMS using accurate medical terminology.First aid and CPR in high-stress, non-routine incidents — administer calmly and effectively, adapting techniques to patient condition and available resources in the field.Safety hazard and legal conduct violations — address directly with participants and escalate appropriately, exercising independent judgment under ambiguous conditions.Pool water quality management program — implement and troubleshoot across chemical testing, treatment adjustments, and regulatory compliance without supervisory input.Comprehensive incident documentation system — maintain using spreadsheet and electronic mail software, ensuring records support operational review and regulatory reporting.Recreational skills instruction for diverse patron populations — deliver effectively, applying learning strategies to accommodate different ages, abilities, and experience levels.Critical safety decisions under dynamic field conditions — make independently by integrating environmental data, patron behavior, and organizational protocols.Cross-functional problem solving during simultaneous incidents — coordinate response efforts across medical, environmental, and conduct-related emergencies on a single shift.
advanced
Facility-wide patrol and surveillance strategy — design and implement across all recreational zones, establishing coverage standards that reduce incident rates organization-wide.Rescue operations training curriculum — develop and deliver for new and returning staff using presentation and desktop publishing software, grounded in current industry standards.Emergency response protocols and EMS partnership agreements — establish and maintain at the organizational level, ensuring seamless integration with local emergency services.First aid and CPR certification training program — lead internally for all facility staff, setting competency benchmarks and evaluating readiness through structured assessments.Safety communication policy for weather, hazards, and patron conduct — author and institutionalize across multiple venues, ensuring consistent application by all protective service workers.Water quality management standards and regulatory compliance framework — oversee across facility systems, managing vendor relationships and documentation for health inspections.Incident data analysis and reporting system — direct using spreadsheet and word processing tools to identify trends, inform risk mitigation strategies, and report to organizational leadership.Recreational safety education program — lead for broad community audiences, integrating public safety messaging and evidence-based instructional design across seasonal programming.Staff performance standards and professional development pathway — establish for protective service teams, conducting evaluations and coaching workers through progressive skill levels.Organizational safety culture and integrity standards — model and champion across all staff, instilling dependability, stress tolerance, and ethical conduct as operational norms.
Also known as
27 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Aquatics CoordinatorAquatics LifeguardAquatics SpecialistBeach AttendantBeach LifeguardBus MonitorCertified LifeguardCertified Ski PatrollerGamewell OperatorLife GuardLifeguardMarine Safety OfficerOcean LifeguardOcean Lifeguard SpecialistOEC Tech (Outdoor Emergency Care Technician)Park RangerPlayground MonitorPool AttendantPool LifeguardPool MonitorPool SupervisorRangerRecreation AideRescue WorkerSki Patrol ParamedicSki PatrollerSurveillance System Monitor