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Salary comparison

Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers vs. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers: Who Earns More?

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers out-earn Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers by $43K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers land at $33,580 and Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers at $76,210. The education gap is real: lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service worker programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while police and sheriff's patrol officer programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers is District of Columbia ($60,400); for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers it's California ($118,880).

Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Median salary
$33,580
$76,210
Hourly rate
$16.14/hr
$36.64/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$25,780
$47,510
Senior level (90th %)
$43,970
$115,120
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
157,550
670,520
Job growth (10-year)
5.8%
3.1%
Category
Public Safety
Public Safety
Top-paying state
District of Columbia
California

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers median pay.

State
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
District of Columbia
$60,400
$88,650
Hawaii
$52,630
$83,820
California
$42,720
$118,880
Washington
$37,770
$102,080
Massachusetts
$36,650
$78,940
New York
$36,590
$92,790
Connecticut
$35,960
$82,170
Colorado
$35,640
$97,350
Oregon
$35,030
$88,140
New Jersey
$34,760
$92,610
Alaska
$34,540
$99,130
Illinois
$33,710
$100,520
Delaware
$31,930
$92,970
Minnesota
$31,870
$83,360
Pennsylvania
$29,480
$85,470

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers or Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earn more nationally. The median is $33,580 for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers versus $76,210 for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, a difference of $43K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers or Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers has the better 10-year outlook at 5.8% projected growth, compared to 3.1% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers or Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers at $60,400/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers vs. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers earn $60,400 vs. $88,650 for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers salary breakdownView →Full Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers by take-home payExplore →How to become a lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workersGuide →How to become a police and sheriff's patrol officersGuide →