Lifeguard instructor
Also known as: instructor of lifeguards, lifeguard training instructor, pool lifeguard trainer, instructor of professional lifeguards, lifeguard training practitioner, pool lifeguard instructor
About this occupation
Lifeguard instructors teach future (professional) lifeguards the necessary programmes and methods needed to become a licensed lifeguard. They provide training on safety supervision of all swimmers, assessment of potentially hazardous situations, rescue-specific swimming and diving techniques, first aid treatment for swimming-related injuries, and they inform students on preventative lifeguard responsibilities. They ensure students are aware of the importance of checking safe water quality, heeding risk management and being aware of the necessary protocols and regulations regarding lifeguarding and rescuing. They monitor the students' progress, evaluate them through theoretical and practical tests and award the lifeguard licenses when obtained.
Essential skills and knowledge
- give constructive feedback
- adapt teaching to student's capabilities
- provide lesson materials
- first aid
- guarantee students' safety
- educate on emergency management
- apply teaching strategies
- provide advice on breaches of regulation
- provide advice on safety
- law enforcement
- curriculum objectives
- encourage students to acknowledge their achievements
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers (O*NET 33-9092.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- 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.
- Typical education (US)
- Less than a High School Diploma
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Social, Conventional
Top skills: Monitoring, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Active Listening, Learning Strategies
US median pay: US$33,580 a year (2025), 157,550 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageImportant (3.5)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Less than a High School Diploma
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Firefighters
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
- Emergency Medical Technicians
- Recreation Workers
- Security Guards
- Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
- Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
- Paramedics
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.