Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
Protective Service
Day to day means watching a pool, beach, trail, or ski slope from a tower, on foot, or in a vehicle, ready to warn people off unsafe areas or weather. When someone is in trouble, the job is to rescue them, check injuries, give first aid or CPR, and call emergency medical staff if the injury is serious. Between those moments, the work includes testing pool chemicals, logging weather and beach conditions, and teaching swimming, skiing, or other safety basics. It suits people who stay alert for long quiet stretches and can act quickly when a rescue or medical situation starts.
Typical education: Less than a High School Diploma
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$33'580
Median Wage Market Position
$33'580
What you might do
- Patrol pools, beaches, or slopes for trouble
- Rescue people in distress from water or snow
- Give first aid or CPR to the injured
- Call medical crews for serious accidents
- Warn guests of weather, closed areas, or rule-breaking
- Test pool chemicals and log weather and incidents
Skills that matter
- Scanning water, trails, or slopes
- Rescuing distressed swimmers or skiers
- Giving first aid and CPR
- Warning people of weather or hazards
- Instructing participants in swimming or skiing
- Testing pool chemical levels
AI & the future of this role
Watching for distress and performing rescues require split-second judgment, physical skill, and calm presence with the public. Sensors might help scan crowds or slopes, but liability-heavy emergency response and first aid are likely to stay human-led.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details