Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in New Mexico make a median of $28,590 a year, or about $13.75 an hour. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $38K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $30,722 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 55.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $29K get you in New Mexico?
About lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in New Mexico
Pay for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers in New Mexico runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $34K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,119/month, which is 54.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, New Mexico
Entry-level lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $29K. Top earners bring in $38K or more, a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers salary by metro in New Mexico
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $28K | -1% | 400 |
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 New Mexico numbers change.
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 New Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $29K, rent takes 54.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/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 New Mexico?
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 $1,636/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 68% 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 New Mexico?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $29K here vs. $34K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers?
New Mexico pays $29K median vs. the U.S. average of $34K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $31K — below the national median.
How much do lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers make in New Mexico?
The median is $28,590 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,260, and experienced lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers can clear $37,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $29K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,050/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 54.6% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $30,722 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.