Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary in Washington, DC
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $34,710 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,153 take-home, or $2,429 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,985
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,152
- Medicare (1.45%)$503
- District of Columbia income tax$917
- Take-home pay$29,153
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,120 | $14.00 | $24,997 | $2,083 |
| 25th percentile | $31,380 | $15.09 | $26,677 | $2,223 |
| Median (50th) | $34,710 | $16.69 | $29,153 | $2,429 |
| 75th percentile | $37,160 | $17.87 | $30,974 | $2,581 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,000 | $21.15 | $36,060 | $3,005 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,710 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers's $29,153 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,774 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Washington, DC has 1.4× the national concentration of lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #10 of 13 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $43,800 | $36,063 | $31,755 |
| 2 | San Diego, CA | $43,050 | $35,500 | $31,728 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $39,240 | $33,709 | $30,332 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $36,620 | $30,701 | $29,023 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $34,830 | $29,504 | $28,557 |
| 6 | Miami, FL | $37,230 | $32,094 | $28,115 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $34,080 | $28,308 | $27,092 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $36,600 | $30,209 | $26,837 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $34,710 | $29,153 | $26,774 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 13 metros →
About the job: lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
Monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes, to provide assistance and protection to participants.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.5% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers make in Washington, DC?
The median lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $34,710 a year, or about $16.69 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,380 and $37,160.
What is a lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $34,710 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $29,153 a year ($2,429 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $917 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $33,580. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,774 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #10 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 82% of a median lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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