The average salary for a lifeguard in North Carolina is around $27,310 per year.
Avg Salary
Lifeguards earn an average yearly salary of $27,310.
Wages typically start from $21,830 and go up to $36,390.
58% below national average Updated in 2025
Lifeguard earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level lifeguard earnings begin at:
$17.49 per hour
$36,390 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level lifeguard earnings begin at:
$15.57 per hour
$32,380 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level lifeguard earnings begin at:
$13.13 per hour
$27,310 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level lifeguard earnings begin at:
$12.09 per hour
$25,140 per year
10th percentile
Starting level lifeguard earnings begin at:
$10.50 per hour
$21,830 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Lifeguard salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $60,400 |
| Hawaii | $52,630 |
| California | $42,720 |
| Washington | $37,770 |
| Montana | $37,750 |
| Massachusetts | $36,650 |
| New York | $36,590 |
| Vermont | $36,030 |
| Connecticut | $35,960 |
| Rhode Island | $35,770 |
| Colorado | $35,640 |
| Arizona | $35,380 |
| Florida | $35,040 |
| Oregon | $35,030 |
| New Jersey | $34,760 |
| Alaska | $34,540 |
| Maryland | $34,520 |
| Maine | $34,320 |
| Illinois | $33,710 |
| New Hampshire | $32,100 |
| Delaware | $31,930 |
| Minnesota | $31,870 |
| South Dakota | $30,990 |
| Georgia | $30,880 |
| Nevada | $30,830 |
| Virginia | $30,070 |
| Michigan | $29,760 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,480 |
| Texas | $29,450 |
| Missouri | $29,260 |
| Nebraska | $29,100 |
| Wyoming | $29,030 |
| Idaho | $28,770 |
| Utah | $28,720 |
| Indiana | $28,640 |
| New Mexico | $28,590 |
| Wisconsin | $28,570 |
| Kentucky | $28,520 |
| North Dakota | $28,430 |
| Tennessee | $28,200 |
| Alabama | $28,130 |
| Ohio | $27,770 |
| North Carolina | $27,310 |
| Kansas | $27,220 |
| Arkansas | $27,000 |
| South Carolina | $26,210 |
| Iowa | $25,460 |
| Oklahoma | $25,250 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $24,840 |
| West Virginia | $24,670 |
| Mississippi | $24,440 |
| Louisiana | $22,240 |
| Guam | $19,910 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,520 |
How do lifeguard salaries compare to similar careers?
Lifeguards earn 6% less than similar careers in North Carolina. On average, they make less than retail salespeople but more than amusement attendants.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Retail salesperson salary | $31K |
| Janitor salary | $34K |
| Housekeeping cleaner salary | $31K |
| Vehicle cleaner salary | $33K |
| Cashier salary | $29K |
| Lifeguard salary | $27K |
| Barista salary | $29K |
| Host and hostess salary | $28K |
| Amusement attendant salary | $27K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)