Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary in Seattle, WA
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $39,240 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,709 take-home, or $2,809 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,529
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,433
- Medicare (1.45%)$569
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$33,709
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% 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 Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,780 | $16.72 | $30,126 | $2,510 |
| 25th percentile | $37,160 | $17.87 | $32,038 | $2,670 |
| Median (50th) | $39,240 | $18.87 | $33,709 | $2,809 |
| 75th percentile | $45,240 | $21.75 | $38,530 | $3,211 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,920 | $23.04 | $40,684 | $3,390 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,240 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% 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 $33,709 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,332 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Seattle, WA 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
Seattle, WA ranks #3 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 Seattle, WA?
The median lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $39,240 a year, or about $18.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,160 and $45,240.
What is a lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $39,240 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $33,709 a year ($2,809 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $33,580. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,332 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #3 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 Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 72% 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 Seattle, WA
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $115,120
- Firefighter — $101,090
- Security Guard — $47,490
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $42,170