Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in Michigan City-La Porte, IN make a median of $30,960 a year, or about $14.89 an hour. The range runs from $21K at the entry level to $56K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.68), which stretches that salary to about $33,770 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,152/month, about 53.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $31K get you in Michigan City-La Porte?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Michigan City-La Porte’s Regional Price Parity (91.68). 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 Michigan City-La Porte
Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers pay in Michigan City-La Porte tracks closely to the national median, $31K locally vs. $34K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,152/month, which is 53.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.68 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers in metros near Michigan City-La Porte, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $29K | $30K |
| Fort Wayne | $29K | $31K |
| Evansville | $27K | $30K |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | $31K | $33K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Michigan City-La Porte, IN
Entry-level lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers (10th percentile) start around $21K. Mid-career wages sit at $31K. Top earners bring in $56K or more, a $35K 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 states
Track lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers salary changes
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Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan City-La Porte?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $31K, rent takes 53.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,152/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 City-La Porte?
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 $1,246/month. At HUD’s $1,152/month FMR, rent would take 92% 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 City-La Porte?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $31K locally vs. $34K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Michigan City-La Porte compare to the national average for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers?
Michigan City-La Porte pays $31K median vs. the U.S. average of $34K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.68), the purchasing-power equivalent is $34K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers make in Michigan City-La Porte, IN?
The median is $30,960 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $20,760, and experienced lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers can clear $56,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $31K enough to live in Michigan City-La Porte?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,164/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,152/month, which eats 53.2% 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 City-La Porte?
Michigan City-La Porte has a Regional Price Parity of 91.68 (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 $33,770 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.