Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in Anchorage, AK make a median of $25,600 a year, or about $12.31 an hour. The range runs from $25K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.42), so that salary is closer to $24,284 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,376/month, about 72.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $26K get you in Anchorage?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Anchorage’s Regional Price Parity (105.42). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
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What this looks like in Anchorage
Pay for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers in Anchorage runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $34K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,376/month, which is 73.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.42), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Anchorage, AK
Entry-level lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers (10th percentile) start around $25K. Mid-career wages sit at $26K. Top earners bring in $45K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $60K | +80% | 290 |
| Hawaii | $53K | +57% | 720 |
| California | $43K | +27% | 22,620 |
| Washington | $38K | +12% | 4,720 |
| Montana | $38K | +12% | 270 |
| Massachusetts | $37K | +9% | 2,640 |
| New York | $37K | +9% | 8,740 |
| Vermont | $36K | +7% | 310 |
| Connecticut | $36K | +7% | 1,510 |
| Rhode Island | $36K | +7% | 370 |
| Colorado | $36K | +6% | 5,430 |
| Arizona | $35K | +5% | 3,950 |
| Florida | $35K | +4% | 9,460 |
| Oregon | $35K | +4% | 1,860 |
| New Jersey | $35K | +4% | 5,460 |
| Alaska | $35K | +3% | 340 |
| Maryland | $35K | +3% | 4,160 |
| Maine | $34K | +2% | 340 |
| Illinois | $34K | +0% | 5,880 |
| New Hampshire | $32K | -4% | 280 |
| Delaware | $32K | -5% | 360 |
| Minnesota | $32K | -5% | 2,130 |
| South Dakota | $31K | -8% | 490 |
| Georgia | $31K | -8% | 2,840 |
| Nevada | $31K | -8% | 2,630 |
| Virginia | $30K | -10% | 8,920 |
| Michigan | $30K | -11% | 3,770 |
| Pennsylvania | $29K | -12% | 5,450 |
| Texas | $29K | -12% | 11,320 |
| Missouri | $29K | -13% | 3,100 |
| Nebraska | $29K | -13% | 1,250 |
| Wyoming | $29K | -14% | 500 |
| Idaho | $29K | -14% | 750 |
| Utah | $29K | -14% | 2,550 |
| Indiana | $29K | -15% | 3,290 |
| New Mexico | $29K | -15% | 760 |
| Wisconsin | $29K | -15% | 3,350 |
| Kentucky | $29K | -15% | 1,820 |
| North Dakota | $28K | -15% | 580 |
| Tennessee | $28K | -16% | 2,330 |
| Alabama | $28K | -16% | 1,080 |
| Ohio | $28K | -17% | 6,450 |
| North Carolina | $27K | -19% | 4,850 |
| Kansas | $27K | -19% | 1,750 |
| Arkansas | $27K | -20% | 530 |
| South Carolina | $26K | -22% | 1,900 |
| Iowa | $25K | -24% | 1,410 |
| Oklahoma | $25K | -25% | 650 |
| West Virginia | $25K | -27% | 450 |
| Mississippi | $24K | -27% | 330 |
| Louisiana | $22K | -34% | 660 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Anchorage?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $26K, rent takes 73.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,376/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers in Anchorage?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers typically earn — is $25K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,486/month. At HUD’s $1,376/month FMR, rent would take 93% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service worker a high-paying job in Anchorage?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $26K here vs. $34K nationally.
How does Anchorage compare to the national average for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers?
Anchorage pays $26K median vs. the U.S. average of $34K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $24K — below the national median.
How much do lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers make in Anchorage, AK?
The median is $25,600 a year, that works out to about $12 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $24,770, and experienced lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers can clear $45,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $26K enough to live in Anchorage?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,882/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,376/month, which eats 73.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers salary go in Anchorage?
Anchorage has a Regional Price Parity of 105.42 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers salary is worth about $24,284 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.