Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $34,830 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,504 take-home, or $2,459 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,000
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,159
- Medicare (1.45%)$505
- Arizona income tax$662
- Take-home pay$29,504
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% 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 Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,970 | $14.89 | $26,499 | $2,208 |
| 25th percentile | $31,030 | $14.92 | $26,546 | $2,212 |
| Median (50th) | $34,830 | $16.75 | $29,504 | $2,459 |
| 75th percentile | $36,110 | $17.36 | $30,500 | $2,542 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,390 | $18.94 | $33,054 | $2,754 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,830 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers's $29,504 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,557 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers jobs are about as common in Phoenix, AZ as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #5 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 Phoenix, AZ?
The median lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $34,830 a year, or about $16.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,030 and $36,110.
What is a lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $34,830 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $29,504 a year ($2,459 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $662 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $33,580. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,557 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #5 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 Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 64% 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 Phoenix, AZ
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $85,050
- Firefighter — $61,780
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $57,280
- Security Guard — $38,290