# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/lifeguards-ski-patrol-and-other-recreational-protective-service-workers
- SOC code: 33-9092.00
- Career family: Protective service
- Median annual pay: $33,580 (10th percentile $25,780, 90th percentile $43,970)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +5.5%
- Openings a year: 45,400
- Typical entry education: No formal credential
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RSC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 88 |
| Investigative (I) | 23 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 54 |
| Enterprising (E) | 31 |
| Conventional (C) | 41 |

## What you'd do

- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 90/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 86/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 78/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 77/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 73/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 72/100)
- Getting Information (importance 71/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 71/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 71/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 69/100)

## Skills

Monitoring, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Active Listening, Learning Strategies, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, Public Safety and Security, English Language, Education and Training, Medicine and Dentistry, Psychology, Administration and Management, Chemistry, Therapy and Counseling, Foreign Language

## Also called

Aquatics Coordinator, Aquatics Lifeguard, Aquatics Specialist, Beach Attendant, Beach Lifeguard, Bus Monitor, Certified Lifeguard, Certified Ski Patroller, Gamewell Operator, Life Guard

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0302) (CIP 0302, 204 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [California State University-Bakersfield](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-bakersfield-364) | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | not reported | $82,315 | not reported |
| [West Virginia University Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/west-virginia-university-main-campus-3219) | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $59,962 | $75,022 | $22,313 |
| [University of Rhode Island URI](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-rhode-island-uri-3025) | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $53,168 | $72,311 | $19,500 |
| [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo-slo-360) | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $50,871 | $68,965 | $15,083 |
| [Michigan State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/michigan-state-university-1677) | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $54,195 | $68,913 | $20,000 |
| [SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry](https://www.collegesref.com/college/suny-college-of-environmental-science-and-forestry-2648) | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $49,930 | $65,604 | $20,250 |
| [Everglades University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/everglades-university-930) | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $49,184 | $61,850 | $41,044 |
| [Marist College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/marist-college-1597) | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | not reported | $58,610 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Firefighters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/firefighters): $59,280 median pay
- [Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/ambulance-drivers-and-attendants-except-emergency-medical-technicians): $35,450 median pay
- [Emergency Medical Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/emergency-medical-technicians): $44,470 median pay
- [Recreation Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/recreation-workers): $36,560 median pay
- [Security Guards](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/security-guards): $38,020 median pay
- [Occupational Health and Safety Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/occupational-health-and-safety-technicians): $61,560 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.