Sources: California Department of Human Resources (CalHR), California State Civil Service Pay Scales — Section 17 Schematic Listing (with Section 16 Schematic Arrangement of Classes); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
California state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective September 14, 2026. These are the ranges California sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Pool Lifeguard -Seasonal- Class 0994 Grade 0994 | $18.38 – $21.88 a hour $38,230 – $45,510 a year |
| Pool Lifeguard Class 0995 Grade 0995 | $3,491.00 – $4,249.00 a month $41,892 – $50,988 a year |
| Lifeguard I (Seasonal) Class 0993 Grade 0993 | $20.69 – $22.97 a hour $43,035 – $47,778 a year |
| Lifeguard II (Seasonal) Class 0990 Grade 0990 | $22.51 – $25.27 a hour $46,821 – $52,562 a year |
| State Park Peace Officer Cadet (Lifeguard) Class 1916 Grade 1916 | $4,369.00 – $5,893.00 a month $52,428 – $70,716 a year |
| State Park Peace Officer (Lifeguard) Class 0992 Grade 0992 Range A | $5,563.00 – $7,365.00 a month $66,756 – $88,380 a year |
Grade 0992 Range B | $6,339.00 – $8,802.00 a month $76,068 – $105,624 a year |
| Lifeguard (Permanent Intermittent) Class 0985 | No fixed rate published |
Schedule: Civil Service Pay Scale (Section 17, by schematic code). Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions (hourly × 2,080). Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: California Department of Human Resources (CalHR), California State Civil Service Pay Scales — Section 17 Schematic Listing (with Section 16 Schematic Arrangement of Classes). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pay in California, all employers Sourced
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers (SOC 33-9092) in California, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | CA |
|---|---|
| Workers | 22,620 |
| 10th percentile | $34,620 |
| Median | $42,720 |
| 90th percentile | $58,710 |
| National median, government employers | $34,580 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Lifeguard (city / state beaches & pools) page.