Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers pay in California
$44,380avg. a year
$21.34 an hour · 22,620 employed
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in California earn an average of $44,380 a year. That is $9,910 (29%) more than the U.S. average of $34,470. The best-paying metro area is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $46,780.
$42,720Median pay
$21.34Average hourly
+17%Avg. pay since 2020
#3Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers by metro area. Swipe to see all 19.
111,640 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$46,780
$22.49 an hour
22,480 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$45,230
$21.75 an hour
31,020 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$43,270
$20.81 an hour
4260 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$42,460
$20.41 an hour
52,000 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$42,070
$20.23 an hour
6340 jobs
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$41,840
$20.12 an hour
7120 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$41,820
$20.11 an hour
81,070 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$41,620
$20.01 an hour
9230 jobs
Fresno, CA
$40,610
$19.52 an hour
10460 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$40,530
$19.49 an hour
11200 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$40,200
$19.33 an hour
12260 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$39,720
$19.10 an hour
13150 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$39,170
$18.83 an hour
141,000 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$38,590
$18.55 an hour
15210 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$37,850
$18.20 an hour
16250 jobs
Salinas, CA
$37,330
$17.95 an hour
17100 jobs
Modesto, CA
$37,090
$17.83 an hour
1850 jobs
Chico, CA
$36,710
$17.65 an hour
1990 jobs
El Centro, CA
$35,660
$17.15 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $28k$28k–$32k$32k–$36k$36k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $34,470 | $16.57 |
| California | $44,380 | $21.34 |
| Oregon | $35,640 | $17.13 |
| Arizona | $35,010 | $16.83 |
| Nevada | $31,440 | $15.11 |
Related jobs in California
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers make in California?
The average is $44,380 a year, and the median is $42,720. That is $9,910 (29%) more than the U.S. average of $34,470.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$21.34 an hour on average; the median is $20.54.
Where in California do they earn the most?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($46,780), followed by San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA ($45,230). The lowest average among 19 metro areas with data is El Centro, CA ($35,660).
How does California rank?
California ranks #3 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 33-9092. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.