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Boston Career Explorer

Protective Service

Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers

Monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes, to provide assistance and protection to participants.

Also called: Beach Attendant, Beach Lifeguard, Lifeguard, Marine Safety Officer, Ocean Lifeguard, Ocean Lifeguard Specialist

Median pay in Greater Boston
$37,180
$17.88/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
2,000
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+8.1%
690 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
No formal educational credential
plus Short-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$32,980$34,600$37,180$41,600$42,830

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Patrol or monitor recreational areas, such as trails, slopes, or swimming areas, on foot, in vehicles, or from towers.
  • Rescue distressed persons, using rescue techniques and equipment.
  • Contact emergency medical personnel in case of serious injury.
  • Examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.
  • Warn recreational participants of inclement weather, unsafe areas, or illegal conduct.
  • Maintain quality of pool water by testing chemical levels.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure35 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 34
  • Language-model AIOE 38
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 33

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is moderate, but observed AI use is little or none today. AI tools could help with some planning and scheduling work. The core tasks of watching the water or slopes, rescuing people, giving first aid, and calling emergency responders are hands-on and depend on people.

Likely to change

  • Scheduling and safety-reporting paperwork
  • Weather and crowd information

Still relies on people

  • Rescuing people and giving first aid or CPR
  • Watching the area and warning visitors

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

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    Watching participants, giving them guidance, and staying safety-minded carry over. This job offers higher pay ($65,190 in Boston) and 14.0% projected growth in Massachusetts.

    Pay difference
    +$28,010 median
    AI exposure
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    MA growth
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    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

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    Pay difference
    +$22,490 median
    AI exposure
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    MA growth
    +5.2%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

    Following safety rules and watching for hazards carry over. This job pays about $76,940 in Boston and is learned through moderate on-the-job training.

    Pay difference
    +$39,760 median
    AI exposure
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    MA growth
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    To get started
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Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

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