How to hire lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Complete and maintain records of weather and beach conditions, emergency medical treatments performed, and other relevant incident information. • Contact emergency medical personnel in case of serious injury. • Examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment. • Instruct participants in skiing, swimming, or other recreational activities and provide safety precaution information. • Maintain quality of pool water by testing chemical levels. • Patrol or monitor recreational areas, such as trails, slopes, or swimming areas, on foot, in vehicles, or from towers. • Rescue distressed persons, using rescue techniques and equipment. • Warn recreational participants of inclement weather, unsafe areas, or illegal conduct. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: No formal educational credential] • Strong monitoring, speaking, active listening, learning strategies and critical thinking skills • Working knowledge of customer and personal service and public safety and security • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $16.14 an hour ($33,580 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to complete and maintain records of weather and beach conditions, emergency medical treatments performed, and other relevant incident information. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to contact emergency medical personnel in case of serious injury. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to instruct participants in skiing, swimming, or other recreational activities and provide safety precaution information. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- How do you keep track of your own work quality during a busy shift or week? Give an example of catching a problem early.
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers do
- Complete and maintain records of weather and beach conditions, emergency medical treatments performed, and other relevant incident information.
- Contact emergency medical personnel in case of serious injury.
- Examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.
- Instruct participants in skiing, swimming, or other recreational activities and provide safety precaution information.
- Maintain quality of pool water by testing chemical levels.
- Patrol or monitor recreational areas, such as trails, slopes, or swimming areas, on foot, in vehicles, or from towers.
- Rescue distressed persons, using rescue techniques and equipment.
- Warn recreational participants of inclement weather, unsafe areas, or illegal conduct.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: None (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +5.5% over ten years, faster than average · about 45,400 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $52,630 |
| California | $42,720 |
| Washington | $37,770 |
| Massachusetts | $36,650 |
| New York | $36,590 |
| Iowa | $25,460 |
| Oklahoma | $25,250 |
| Louisiana | $22,240 |
See lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Firefighters
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
- Emergency Medical Technicians
- Recreation Workers
- Security Guards
- Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
- Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
- Paramedics
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: 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; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.