Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary in Denver, CO
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $36,620 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,701 take-home, or $2,558 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,214
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,270
- Medicare (1.45%)$531
- Colorado income tax$903
- Take-home pay$30,701
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
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 Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,640 | $15.69 | $27,678 | $2,307 |
| 25th percentile | $34,700 | $16.68 | $29,243 | $2,437 |
| Median (50th) | $36,620 | $17.61 | $30,701 | $2,558 |
| 75th percentile | $38,060 | $18.30 | $31,795 | $2,650 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,280 | $18.88 | $32,722 | $2,727 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,620 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers's $30,701 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,023 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Denver, CO has 1.7× 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
Denver, CO ranks #4 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 |
*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 Denver, CO?
The median lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $36,620 a year, or about $17.61 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,700 and $38,060.
What is a lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $36,620 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $30,701 a year ($2,558 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $903 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $33,580. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,023 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #4 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 Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 69% 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%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $101,970
- Firefighter — $87,980
- Security Guard — $45,420
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $43,720