Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in Minnesota make a median of $31,870 a year, or about $15.32 an hour. The range runs from $26K at the entry level to $38K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $34,417 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,384/month, about 62.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $32K get you in Minnesota?
About lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers pay in Minnesota tracks closely to the national median, $32K locally vs. $34K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,384/month, which is 62.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Minnesota
Entry-level lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers (10th percentile) start around $26K. Mid-career wages sit at $32K. Top earners bring in $38K or more, a $12K spread from bottom to top.
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers salary by metro in Minnesota
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $34K | +7% | 1,380 |
| St. Cloud | $32K | -1% | 60 |
| Duluth | $30K | -7% | 90 |
| Rochester | $28K | -13% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Minnesota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $32K, rent takes 62.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/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 Minnesota?
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 $1,557/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 89% 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 Minnesota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $32K locally vs. $34K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers?
Minnesota pays $32K median vs. the U.S. average of $34K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), 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 Minnesota?
The median is $31,870 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $25,950, and experienced lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers can clear $38,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $32K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,227/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 62.1% 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $34,417 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.