Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in Montana make a median of $37,750 a year, or about $18.15 an hour. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $38,918 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 43.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $38K get you in Montana?
About lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
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What this looks like in Montana
Montana sits well above the national pay line for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $34K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,129/month, which is 43.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers salary by metro in Montana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $45K | +18% | 100 |
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 Montana 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 Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 43.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,609/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 70% 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 Montana?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $38K here vs. $34K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers?
Montana pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $34K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $39K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers make in Montana?
The median is $37,750 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $26,820, and experienced lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers can clear $58,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,604/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 43.4% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $38,918 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.