Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor Salary in the United States

How much does an Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor in the United States is $35,454 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $17.

However, an Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $40,964
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $33,084 to $38,338
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $30,925
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View as table View as graph 25% $33,084 10% $30,925 90% $40,964 75% $38,338 $35,454 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $38,338 $3,195 $737 $18
Average $35,454 $2,955 $682 $17
25th Percentile $33,084 $2,757 $636 $16
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Key Factors That Influence Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor Salaries

An Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor'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 Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor'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): $34,853
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $38,921
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $56,908
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $85,033
  • Expert (over 8 years): $103,916
Levels Salary
Aquatics ... Level Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor$34,853
Diet Tech... Level Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor$38,921
Dietitian... Level Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor$56,908
Dietitian... Level Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor$85,033
Dietitian... Level Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor$103,916
$34,853 0 yr
$38,921 < 2 yrs
$56,908 2-4 yrs
$85,033 5-8 yrs
$103,916 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor 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 Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $39,255.
  • California: $39,106.
  • Massachusetts: $38,585.

Top Paying Cities for Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructors

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: $44,718
  • San Francisco: $44,279
  • Oakland: $43,296

What Skills Can Increase an Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 7.92% 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 Handling (Mentioned in 4.38% Job Postings): Food Handling means one or more operations of food production, manufacture, offering or displaying for sale, storage, preserving, wrapping, transportation, delivery, importation, exportation, or the licensing or approval for any of such activities.
  • Foodservice (Mentioned in 1.65% 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 7.92%
Food Handling 4.38%
Foodservice 1.65%
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 an Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor's salary.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Written Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Analysis
$40,063
13%
Commitment
$37,936
7%
Written Communication
$37,581
6%
Patient Care
$37,227
5%
Problem Solving
$36,872
4%
HACCP
$36,518
3%
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How Education impacts an Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructors enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $31,759 and $33,534).

Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 20.0%
High School 20.0%
Associates 20.0%
Bachelors 60.0%
Masters 20.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor'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 Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor

Salaries for an Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $42,402 in 2023 to around $41,450 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$42,402
2024
$41,867
2025
$41,450
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $42,402
2024 $41,867
2025 $41,450
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor

Here are companies hiring for Aquatics Lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor 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.)

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