Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Salary in Columbia, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Columbia, SC

Median annual salary $26,550 -21.3% vs national
Median hourly $12.77
10th percentile $21,620
90th percentile $36,050
Employed locally 300
National median $33,720

Compare Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers salary & buying power

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Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
in
Columbia, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $21,620
    25th
    $22,320
    50th (median)
    $26,550
    75th
    $33,140
    90th
    $36,050

    Columbia economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $66,146 2023 • Census ACS
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers salary vs area income 40% Median Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers salary is 60% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $71,250
    District of Columbia $58,640
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $56,660
    Hawaii $55,540
    Urban Honolulu, HI $51,990
    Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $47,150

    Nearby metros — Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $40,280
    Charleston-North Charleston, SC $34,510
    Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $32,710
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $32,460
    South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $30,980
    Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC $29,960

    Related occupations in Columbia, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $35,830
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $60,750
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $45,330
    Firefighters $45,960
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators $66,440
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $79,480

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers make per hour in Columbia?

    The median hourly wage for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in Columbia, SC is $12.77, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $16.61 or more per hour.

    Is Columbia above or below average for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers salaries?

    The median Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers salary in Columbia, SC is 21.3% below the national median of $33,720. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in Columbia?

    Entry-level Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers (10th percentile) earn around $21,620 per year in Columbia, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $22,320.