Lifeguards and Swimming Instructors

Many guards and instructors, employed on a temporary or seasonal basis, return to their jobs every summer until they finish school. There are quite a number of lifeguards and instructors who use their passion for the water and skills acquired while on the job as a basis for a full-time career.

There are other options as well. With hard work, ample experience, and further education, lifeguards and instructors can move into managerial positions such as head lifeguard, who assists managers and oversees all other guards; aquatics manager, who is responsible for the maintenance and operation of a pool; or instructor supervisor, who is involved in the hiring, training, and managing of all staff instructors. Highly skilled swimmers may choose to work as aquatic specialists, who run lifeguarding and instructor training programs or may even train professional swimmers.