Sources: Kentucky Personnel Cabinet, Kentucky Classified and Unclassified 37.5 and 40-Hour Salary Schedule (effective September 16, 2026) and Job Class Specifications; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Kentucky state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective September 16, 2026. These are the ranges Kentucky sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Lifeguard Class 20001923 · class description Grade 7 · Salary Schedule, 37.5-Hour Work Week | $1,885.16 a month $22,622 a year |
Grade 7 · Salary Schedule, 40-Hour Work Week | $2,010.84 a month $24,130 a year |
Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: Kentucky Personnel Cabinet, Kentucky Classified and Unclassified 37.5 and 40-Hour Salary Schedule (effective September 16, 2026) and Job Class Specifications. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pay in Kentucky, all employers Sourced
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers (SOC 33-9092) in Kentucky, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | KY |
|---|---|
| Workers | 1,820 |
| 10th percentile | $20,280 |
| Median | $28,520 |
| 90th percentile | $33,250 |
| 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.