Recreational Protective Service Workers

Summary

What Recreational Protective Service Workers Do About this section

Lifeguards monitor swimming areas to keep participants safe.

Recreational protective service workers monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes, to provide aid and protection to participants.

Duties

Recreational protective service workers typically do the following:

• Patrol or monitor recreational areas, such as trails, slopes, or swimming areas
• Rescue distressed people from hazardous situations using rescue techniques and equipment
• Warn individuals about rule violations or safety concerns
• Observe and record information about environmental conditions
• Administer first aid
• Inspect equipment to ensure safety or proper functioning
• Complete incident reports and track accident investigations

Recreational protective service workers provide assistance to guests at parks, beaches, ski resorts, and other recreational areas. They are responsible for ensuring the safety of participants in a variety of recreational activities.

The following are examples of types of recreational protective service workers:

Bike patrollers patrol mountain biking paths and assist bikers who may need directions, help with a flat tire, or first aid. They also identify and mark hazards on the trail and help to maintain trails as needed.

Lifeguards monitor guests at beaches, pools, and aquatic centers. They make sure that swimmers and other visitors follow the rules to ensure safety in and around the water. They also monitor the water quality and other safety concerns, such as dangerous currents or severe weather.

Ski patrollers check ski slopes for dangerous conditions and help skiers and snowboarders who need assistance. For example, they might respond to accidents, assess injuries, and transport injured people down the mountain.

Work Environment About this section

When working outside, recreational protective service workers may be exposed to all types of weather conditions.

Recreational protective service workers held about 162,000 jobs in 2025. Some of the largest employers of recreational protective service workers were as follows:

Many recreational protective service workers spend much of their time outdoors and are exposed to varied weather conditions, such as extreme hot or cold temperatures or wet environments.

Appropriate protective clothing and gear may be necessary to prevent exposure to the elements or other hazards. Outdoor lifeguards, for example, must wear sun protection, while ski patrollers often wear gloves, wind and waterproof pants, jackets, ski boots, goggles, and helmets.

These workers may spend multiple hours standing, walking, or moving around on equipment such as bikes or skis.

The work can be stressful at times, especially when guests are injured or need help. Ski patrollers and bike patrollers who work in mountainous areas must be comfortable working in high altitude environments.

Work Schedules

Part-time work is common. Work schedules may vary and include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays. Jobs for recreational protective service workers are often seasonal. For example, some lifeguards primarily work during summer months, while ski patrollers primarily work during winter months.

How to Become a Recreational Protective Service Worker About this section

Recreational protective service workers often must be certified in first aid.

Recreational protective service workers typically do not need formal education to enter the occupation. To qualify for jobs, candidates usually need athletic ability in a related recreational sport, such as swimming, skiing, or biking. Certification is often required.

Education

Recreational protective service workers typically do not need a formal education credential to qualify for entry-level jobs. For some positions, employers may prefer a high school diploma or the equivalent.

Taking lessons in a particular sport, such as swimming or skiing, is one way for prospective workers to prepare for these jobs. Participating in after-school activities, such as swimming, skiing, or mountain biking clubs or teams, also may be helpful.

Other Experience

These workers usually need athletic ability in a related recreational sport, which they often gain through years of practice and experience. For example, lifeguards must be strong swimmers, and ski and bike patrollers must be able to ride confidently across various terrains.

Employers may require recreational protective service workers to try out or pass tests to demonstrate their abilities. Prospective lifeguards, for example, might need to swim several hundred yards in a specified amount of time, while ski patrollers might need to ski down technical terrain in varied conditions.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Recreational protective service workers often need to be certified. Common certifications include cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid.

Other required credentials vary by position. For example, lifeguards typically need lifeguard certification, while ski or bike patrollers may need certifications related to emergency medical care or wilderness response. Some employers provide training to help workers earn the required certifications. Information on certifications and state licensing board requirements is available from CareerOneStop.

Additional requirements for these workers may include meeting a minimum age or passing a background check.

Training

Recreational protective service workers typically receive short-term on-the-job training after they are hired. Some workers may complete additional training. For example, ski patrollers may be trained on rescue techniques or how to operate ski lifts and other equipment.

Important Qualities

The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page.

Adaptability. Recreational protective service workers must be able to handle changing conditions and situations, such as weather events and accidents.

Detail oriented. Recreational protective service workers must be attentive to their surroundings while monitoring guests and visitors for safety. They must also provide accurate information on injury and accident reports.

Interpersonal skills. Recreational protective service workers must interact well with guests, injured participants, and coworkers.

Physical stamina. Recreational protective service workers must be comfortable performing physically demanding tasks, such as swimming for a long duration or skiing in challenging conditions.

Physical strength. Recreational protective service workers must be strong enough to lift and carry heavy equipment and injured guests.

Problem-solving skills. Recreational protective service workers must identify symptoms and determine the appropriate treatment or response when recreational participants are sick or injured. They also may need to help with equipment-related issues or repairs.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage for recreational protective service workers was $33,580 in May 2025. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,780, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $43,970.

In May 2025, the median annual wages for recreational protective service workers in some of the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Part-time work is common. Work schedules may vary and include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays. Jobs for recreational protective service workers are often seasonal. For example, some lifeguards primarily work during summer months, while ski patrollers primarily work during winter months.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of recreational protective service workers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 45,400 openings for recreational protective service workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Employment is expected to stem from public interest in recreational activities, such as swimming and skiing. These workers will continue to be needed to monitor various recreation sites to keep the public safe and respond to emergencies when they occur. A growing focus on lifelong well-being is expected to boost demand for athletic recreation activities, as well as for the workers responsible for maintaining participants' (or public) safety.

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link below goes to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Use the dropdown boxes to select an occupation.

• Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Profiles

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at https://projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For information about licenses and certifications, visit CareerOneStop.

CareerOneStop

For a career video on recreational protective service workers, visit

Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers

O*NET

Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers