Career Overview
Monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes, to provide assistance and protection to participants.
Also Known As
- Lifeguard
- Ocean Lifeguard
- Pool Attendant
- Ski Patroller
Alternate Job Titles
- Aquatics Coordinator
- Aquatics Lifeguard
- Aquatics Specialist
- Beach Attendant
- Beach Lifeguard
- Bus Monitor
- Certified Lifeguard
- Certified Ski Patroller
- Gamewell Operator
- Life Guard
- Lifeguard
- Marine Safety Officer
- Ocean Lifeguard
- Ocean Lifeguard Specialist
- OEC Tech (Outdoor Emergency Care Technician)
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
- Public Safety and Security
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Monitoring
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Expression
- Far Vision
- Oral Comprehension
- Selective Attention
- Speech Clarity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Speech Recognition
- Flexibility of Closure
- Trunk Strength
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Self-Control
- Stress Tolerance
- Cooperation
- Cautiousness
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Support
- Achievement
- Independence
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Less than a High School Diploma
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Air splints
- Automated external defibrillators AED
- Avalanche beacons
- Chair lifts
- Chlorine testers
- Collapsible snow shovels
- Emergency first aid kits
- Four wheel drive 4WD vehicles
- Global positioning system GPS receivers
- Handheld digital thermometers
- Ice axes
- Mechanical stethoscopes
- Mercury sphygmomanometers
- Mountain bikes
- Navigational compasses
Work Environment
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $24,860 |
| Median | $33,720 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $44,600 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 143,590
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Firefighters
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $59,530
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $34,330
Emergency Medical Technicians
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $41,340
Recreation Workers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $35,380
Security Guards
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $38,370
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.