Head Lifeguard Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Head Lifeguard in the United States is $36,565 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $18.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $42,229
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $32,820 to $39,530
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $29,411
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View as table View as graph 25% $32,820 10% $29,411 90% $42,229 75% $39,530 $36,565 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Head Lifeguard Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $39,530 $3,294 $760 $19
Average $36,565 $3,047 $703 $18
25th Percentile $32,820 $2,735 $631 $16
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Key Factors That Influence Head Lifeguard Salaries

A Head 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Head Lifeguard Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Head 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): $37,085
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $37,434
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $38,103
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $38,237
  • Expert (over 8 years): $38,326
Levels Salary
Entry Level Head Lifeguard$37,085
Intermediate Level Head Lifeguard$37,434
Senior Level Head Lifeguard$38,103
Specialist Level Head Lifeguard$38,237
Expert Level Head Lifeguard$38,326
$37,085 0 yr
$37,434 < 2 yrs
$38,103 2-4 yrs
$38,237 5-8 yrs
$38,326 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Head Lifeguard Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Head Lifeguards. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $40,485.
  • California: $40,331.
  • Massachusetts: $39,794.

Top Paying Cities for Head 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: $46,120
  • San Francisco: $45,666
  • Oakland: $44,653

What Skills Can Increase a Head Lifeguard's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 29.14% 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.
  • Food Safety (Mentioned in 2.16% Job Postings): Applying procedures during food preparation, processing, storage, and distribution to ensure consumers are safe from foodborne illnesses.
  • Foodservice (Mentioned in 1.13% Job Postings): The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home. It includes restaurants, school and hospital cafeterias, catering operations, and many other formats.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 29.14%
Food Safety 2.16%
Foodservice 1.13%
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 Head Lifeguard's salary.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Store Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • WFM: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaboration
$38,393
5%
Store Management
$38,393
5%
WFM
$38,393
5%
Housekeeping
$38,028
4%
Coaching
$38,028
4%
Medical Prescriptions
$38,028
4%
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How Education impacts a Head Lifeguard's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Head Lifeguards enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Head Lifeguard with a No Diploma is between $31,664 and $34,050).

Head Lifeguard Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Head Lifeguard
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 10.5%
High School 52.3%
Associates 12.5%
Bachelors 22.0%
Masters 2.4%
Doctorate 0.3%
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Head Lifeguard Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Head 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 Head Lifeguard

Salaries for a Head Lifeguard can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $37,527 in 2023 to around $37,481 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Head Lifeguard salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Head Lifeguard Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$37,527
2024
$37,775
2025
$37,481
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $37,527
2024 $37,775
2025 $37,481
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Head Lifeguard

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

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

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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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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