Certified Lifeguard Salary in the United States

How much does a Certified Lifeguard make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Certified Lifeguard in the United States is $29,185 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $14.

However, a Certified Lifeguard's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $33,356
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $27,349 to $31,369
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $25,676
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View as table View as graph 25% $27,349 10% $25,676 90% $33,356 75% $31,369 $29,185 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Certified Lifeguard Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $31,369 $2,614 $603 $15
Average $29,185 $2,432 $561 $14
25th Percentile $27,349 $2,279 $526 $13
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Key Factors That Influence Certified Lifeguard Salaries

A Certified Lifeguard's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Certified Lifeguard Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Certified Lifeguard's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $29,262
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $29,568
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $30,376
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $30,487
  • Expert (over 8 years): $30,670
Levels Salary
Entry Level Certified Lifeguard$29,262
Intermediate Level Certified Lifeguard$29,568
Senior Level Certified Lifeguard$30,376
Specialist Level Certified Lifeguard$30,487
Expert Level Certified Lifeguard$30,670
$29,262 0 yr
$29,568 < 2 yrs
$30,376 2-4 yrs
$30,487 5-8 yrs
$30,670 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Certified Lifeguards

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $36,811
  • San Francisco: $36,449
  • Oakland: $35,641

What Skills Can Increase a Certified Lifeguard's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 25.25% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Accounting (Mentioned in 2.98% Job Postings): Creating financial statements and reports based on the summary of financial and business transactions.
  • Square (Mentioned in 1.03% Job Postings): Square in geometry, a plane figure with four equal sides and four right (90°) angles. A square is a special kind of rectangle and a special kind of parallelogram.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 25.25%
Accounting 2.98%
Square 1.03%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Certified Lifeguard's salary.
  • Critical Thinking: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Accounting: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Critical Thinking
$32,104
10%
Presentation
$31,812
9%
Accounting
$30,936
6%
Microsoft Office
$30,936
6%
Commitment
$30,353
4%
Flexibility
$30,353
4%
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Certified Lifeguard Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Certified Lifeguard's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Certified Lifeguard

Salaries for a Certified Lifeguard can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $36,311 in 2023 to around $36,393 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Certified Lifeguard salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Certified Lifeguard Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$36,311
2024
$36,578
2025
$36,393
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $36,311
2024 $36,578
2025 $36,393
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Certified Lifeguard

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Certified Lifeguard

Here are companies hiring for Certified Lifeguard and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Certified Lifeguard job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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