Lifeguard training is underrated in how difficult it is. Of course, you will need to gain a lifeguarding qualification –the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ). The truth is, the test you need to pass to gain your NPLQ is intensive. It requires specialist training in order to be successful.
If you're looking for a job with an opportunity to learn, take ownership in your work, and assume more responsibility as you go, lifeguarding is an excellent fit. Remember: lifeguards protect the safety and well-being of anyone who comes to the pool. Few summer jobs can top that in responsibility.
Interested applicants must be 12 to 15 years old and be able to front crawl for 25 continuous yards while breathing to front or side, tread water for one minute, and submerge and swim a distance of 10 feet under water.
Becoming a lifeguard does require an initial investment of time and money. Certification courses cost anywhere from $150 to $500, and take upwards of 30 hours to complete. If you have a specific facility where you would like to work, check with the manager to see what type of lifeguard certification they prefer.
The average hourly pay for all lifeguards is around $9.25 per hour, but will vary by experience and location. Experienced beach lifeguards can earn $16 per hour or more.
Bronze Cross is a prerequisite for all advanced training programs including National Lifeguard and Instructor certification. Includes a timed 600 m swim. The Lifesaving Society deems its certifications to be "current" for 24 months from the certification date.
What is needed to start the lifeguard training course:
- You need to be 16+.
- Must be able to jump, much preferably, dive into deep water.
- Swim 50 meters, two lengths of an average pool, in 60 seconds.
- Swim 100 meters continuously, at your own pace, on front and back in deep water.
- Tread water for 30 consecutive seconds.
An entry-level Lifeguard with less than 1 year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of $9.45 based on 207 salaries. An early career Lifeguard with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $9.82 based on 1,083 salaries.
National Average
| Salary Range (Percentile) |
|---|
| 25th | Average |
|---|
| Monthly Salary | $1,708 | $2,007 |
| Weekly Salary | $394 | $463 |
| Hourly Salary | $10 | $12 |
Cost: For a party of 3 hours or less we charge a $185 flat fee. After 3 hours, each additional half hour is $20 (which is $40 per hour) per lifeguard.
“You should take a break at least once an hour,” state the American Red Cross' lifeguard manuals. The USLA encourages facilities to provide guards on continuous surveillance duty with a 15-minute break every hour.
Average City Of Miami Beach Lifeguard hourly pay in Florida is approximately $24.68, which is 116% above the national average.
YMCA pays its employees an average of $11.93 an hour. Hourly pay at YMCA ranges from an average of $8.48 to $18.98 an hour.
Ten pounds is the standard weight for lifeguard tests since people weigh about ten percent of what they do on land when in the water, so the ten pounds would represent about a 100 pound person.
The Lifeguard Brick Test: During this test, you will be required to continuously swim 300 yards, either front crawl or breast stroke. You are also required to tread water for two minutes without the use of your hands. Don't worry; this isn't as terrifying as it sounds. Just practice!
The American Red Cross makes accessing your lifeguarding certification a simple and easy process. We offer digital certificates that can be easily viewed from anywhere via your Red Cross account with simple access to print or share online. Allowing employers access to your certificate information has never been easier.
The YMCA offers a full YMCA of the USA lifeguard training course that includes CPR for the Professional Rescuer (CPRO) and First Aid, equipment-based rescues for aquatic environments, accident prevention and decision-making skills. Participants must be 16 years old by the end of the class.
It is valid for two to three years from the issue date, depending on the state where it is issued. However, because CPR is a crucial part of being a lifeguard, your lifeguard certification will automatically expire when your CPR certificate expires, even if your first aid certificate is still valid.
Lifeguard Training Prerequisite
- Must complete the prerequisite prior to registering for a Lifeguarding Course.
- Swim 300 yards continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing.
- Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs.
- Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds.
Do lifeguards have to know how to dive? No. Most of the time a lifeguard will enter the water in other than a dive. A racing dive like they use on a swim team isn't very useful for a lifeguard, since we need to be able to see the victim as we enter and approach them.
Best Jobs for Kids Under 13
- Babysitter. Teens and pre-teens can earn money by babysitting younger children for neighbors and friends.
- Pet Sitter. This is often a great starter job for young children.
- Lemonade Stand.
- Lawn Mowing.
- Yard Work.
- Dog Walker.
- Paper Route.
- Working Retail.
14 and 15 years of age
Such employment must meet the following conditions: The 15-year-old must be trained and certified by the American Red Cross, or a similar certifying organization, in aquatics and water safety; and.The reason for the head “bob” is that you cannot see with just your peripheral vision and must directly move the eye to see blind spots — the biggest one is always directly at the guards' feet. So the only way around this is to actually move their head to get direct vision where would usually just be peripheral.
US Department of Labor Issues Opinion Letter on Lifeguard Minimum Wage and Overtime. In this Opinion Letter, the DOL confirmed that lifeguards employed for less than seven months of the year are exempt from the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the FLSA.
