Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in Michigan make a median of $29,760 a year, or about $14.31 an hour. The range runs from $26K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $31,697 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,272/month, about 60.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Michigan. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $30K get you in Michigan?
About lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
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What this looks like in Michigan
Pay for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers in Michigan runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $34K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,272/month, which is 61.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Michigan
Entry-level lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers (10th percentile) start around $26K. Mid-career wages sit at $30K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers salary by metro in Michigan
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $42K | +42% | 390 |
| Traverse City | $39K | +32% | 120 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores | $35K | +18% | 50 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $30K | -1% | 1,500 |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $29K | -1% | 160 |
| Flint | $29K | -3% | 50 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $29K | -4% | 530 |
| Niles | $28K | -5% | 100 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage | $27K | -8% | 70 |
| Jackson | $26K | -13% | 50 |
| Bay City | $26K | -13% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $30K, rent takes 61.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/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 Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers typically earn — is $26K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,558/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 82% 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 Michigan?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $30K here vs. $34K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers?
Michigan pays $30K median vs. the U.S. average of $34K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $32K — below the national median.
How much do lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers make in Michigan?
The median is $29,760 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $25,960, and experienced lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers can clear $47,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $30K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,057/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 61.8% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $31,697 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.