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.
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. The role reports a median annual salary of $33,720 in the US and is projected to grow 6% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a No formal educational credential, and shows low AI exposure (0.32 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include Monitoring, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Active Listening.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £44,007 a year for Protective service associate professionals n.e.c. (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £35,435 to £54,944 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 3319). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Service and sales workers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 5. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Customer and Personal Service
- Public Safety and Security
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Psychology
- Administration and Management
- Chemistry
What you'd actually do
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers do?
Monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes, to provide assistance and protection to participants.
How much does Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers earn?
The median annual salary for Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers in the US is $33,720.
What is the job outlook for Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers?
The role is projected to grow 6% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 149,700 workers.
How do I become lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers?
The typical entry education is a No formal educational credential. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Monitoring, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Active Listening, Learning Strategies. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers?
Our AI-durability model gives Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers a score of 0.32 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.