Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in Charleston, WV make a median of $25,480 a year, or about $12.25 an hour. The range runs from $21K at the entry level to $30K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.72), which stretches that salary to about $28,720 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,036/month, about 57.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $25K get you in Charleston?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Charleston’s Regional Price Parity (88.72). 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 Charleston
Pay for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers in Charleston 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 $1,036/month, which is 57.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.72 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. 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.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers in metros near Charleston, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Huntington-Ashland | $23K | $26K |
| Wheeling | $24K | $28K |
| Richmond | $29K | $29K |
| Charlottesville | $30K | $30K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Charleston, WV
Entry-level lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers (10th percentile) start around $21K. Mid-career wages sit at $25K. Top earners bring in $30K or more, a $10K 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)
Track lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Charleston?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $25K, rent takes 57.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,036/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $500/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 Charleston?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers typically earn — is $21K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,235/month. At HUD’s $1,036/month FMR, rent would take 84% 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 Charleston?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $25K here vs. $34K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Charleston compare to the national average for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers?
Charleston pays $25K median vs. the U.S. average of $34K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.72), the purchasing-power equivalent is $29K — below the national median.
How much do lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers make in Charleston, WV?
The median is $25,480 a year, that works out to about $12 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $20,590, and experienced lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers can clear $30,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $25K enough to live in Charleston?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,813/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,036/month, which eats 57.1% 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 Charleston?
Charleston has a Regional Price Parity of 88.72 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers salary is worth about $28,720 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.