Administrators at Los Angeles County Parks have increased the hourly wage for pool and lake lifeguards ahead of the upcoming summer season as they seek and recruit more candidates in a competitive job market.
Pool lifeguards have had their wages increase to a range of $23.87 to $25.87, while the range for lake lifeguards is $28.89 to $30.50. The difference in pay is based on the number of hours each lifeguard works.
The decision to raise wages for county lifeguards comes at a time when workers are also seeing pay increases at other jobs. California fast food workers at chains with 60 or more locations will earn a minimum of $20 an hour beginning April 1.
“[The wage increase] comes from a standpoint of competitiveness,” said Kelly Court, an area pool supervisor with LA County Parks. “We took a look at what other agencies were offering and we want to be able to offer about the same as them.”
The wage increases aren’t the only changes LA County Parks has made to attract more candidates. Last year, the age requirement was lowered from 17 years old to 16 and, in addition, lowered the difficulty of the exam for pool lifeguards. Applicants are now required to demonstrate their ability to swim 300 yards under 6 minutes and 30 seconds. The requirement was previously 500 yards under 10 minutes.
In a statement, LA County Parks Director Norma E. García-González said they are looking to hire 500 more pool lifeguards for the summer swim season, which begins on Memorial Day, May 27.
“There’s a countywide and a national shortage of lifeguards,” Court said. “I think it’s because we’re competing with so many other jobs now. … We’re trying to get as close as possible [to hiring 500 lifeguards]. If we could [get more], that’d be amazing. The more lifeguards we have, the better.”
LA County Parks also offers free training for anyone ages 16 and up interested in becoming a lifeguard through the Lifeguard Ready Training Program. Over the course of 12 sessions spread across six weeks, participants will be taught the fundamental skills necessary to be a lifeguard and will be trained to meet the swim test time standards.
Participants in the program will be provided with the necessary equipment, including towels, swimsuits, goggles and duffel bags. They’ll also be paired up with a group mentor who will provide individual evaluations and support.
From now until May 18, LA County Parks is conducting swim tests to identify qualified candidates. To be eligible, candidates must apply online and participate in a scheduled swim test at an LA County pool. Potential candidates can also contact the managers of the testing locations to schedule a testing time.
One of the upcoming scheduled test dates for pool lifeguards will take place at the San Fernando Aquatics Center on March 9 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
To apply to be a pool or lake lifeguard, go to: https://parks.lacounty.gov/lifeguard-recruitment/. For more information about the Lifeguard Ready Training Program, visit https://parks.lacounty.gov/lrt/.