How Much Does Lifeguard Earn In South Africa

A lifeguard is a rescuer who supervises the safety and rescue of swimmers, surfers, and other water sports participants such as in a swimming pool, water park, beach, spa, river and lake

Below are salaries earn by Lifeguard In South Africa

A person working as a Pool Attendant / Lifeguard in South Africa typically earns around 16,600 ZAR per month. Salaries range from 7,630 ZAR (lowest) to 26,400 ZAR (highest).

This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Pool Attendant / Lifeguard salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.

Lifeguard Salary Distribution in South Africa

The median, the maximum, the minimum, and the range

Salary Range

Pool Attendant / Lifeguard salaries in South Africa range from 7,630 ZAR per month (minimum salary) to 26,400 ZAR per month (maximum salary).

Median Salary

The median salary is 17,900 ZAR per month, which means that half (50%) of people working as Pool Attendant / Lifeguard(s) are earning less than 17,900 ZAR while the other half are earning more than 17,900 ZAR. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.

Percentiles

Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of Pool Attendant / Lifeguard(s) are earning less than 11,500 ZAR while 75% of them are earning more than 11,500 ZAR. Also from the diagram, 75% of Pool Attendant / Lifeguard(s) are earning less than 23,900 ZAR while 25% are earning more than 23,900 ZAR.

Lifeguard Salary Comparison by Years of Experience

How does experience and age affect your pay?

The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher your wage. We broke down Pool Attendant / Lifeguard salaries by experience level and this is what we found.

A Pool Attendant / Lifeguard with less than two years of experience makes approximately 8,660 ZAR per month.

While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 11,600 ZAR per month, 34% more than someone with less than two year’s experience.

Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 17,100 ZAR per month, 48% more than someone with two to five years of experience.

Additionally, Pool Attendant / Lifeguard(s) whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 20,800 ZAR per month, 22% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.

If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 22,700 ZAR per month, 9% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.

Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 24,600 ZAR per month, 8% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.

 Lifeguard average salary change by experience in South Africa

0 – 2 Years8,660 ZAR
2 – 5 Years+34%11,600 ZAR
5 – 10 Years+48%17,100 ZAR
10 – 15 Years+22%20,800 ZAR
15 – 20 Years+9%22,700 ZAR
20+ Years+8%24,600 ZAR

Lifeguard Salary Comparison By Education

We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down Pool Attendant / Lifeguard salaries by education level in order to make a comparison.

When the education level is High School, the average salary of a Pool Attendant / Lifeguard is 10,100 ZAR per month.

While someone with a Certificate or Diploma gets a salary of 19,400 ZAR per month, 93% more than someone having a High School degree.

Lifeguard average salary difference by education level in South Africa

High School10,100 ZAR
Certificate or Diploma+93%19,400 ZAR

Lifeguard Salary Comparison By Gender

Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male Pool Attendant / Lifeguard employees in South Africa earn 12% more than their female counterparts on average.

Male17,500 ZAR
Female-11%15,700 ZAR

Lifeguard Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in South Africa

How much are annual salary increments in South Africa for Pool Attendant / Lifeguard(s)?

How often do employees get salary raises?

Lifeguard

Pool Attendant / Lifeguard(s) in South Africa are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 9% every 18 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 18 months.

Lifeguard Bonus and Incentive Rates in South Africa

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?

A Pool Attendant / Lifeguard is considered to be a low bonus-based job due to the generally limited involvement in direct revenue generation, with exceptions of course. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.

68% of surveyed staff reported that they haven’t received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 32% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.

Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 0% to 4% of their annual salary.

Received Bonus
32%

No Bonus
68%

Lifeguard Average Hourly Wage in South Africa

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in South Africa is 96 ZAR. This means that the average Pool Attendant / Lifeguard in South Africa earns approximately 96 ZAR for every worked hour.

How much money does a lifeguard make in South Africa?

R115,271 (ZAR)/yr.

How do I become a Lifeguard in South Africa?

Entrance requirements:

Must be at least 14 years old on the day of the examination.

Lifeguard must be able to complete a 400m pool swim in under 8 minutes and Junior Lifeguard in under 9 minutes.

Lifeguards must complete one lap under water and Junior Lifeguards half a lap underwater.

How long does it take to become a qualified lifeguard in South Africa ?

36 hours

The National Pool Lifeguard Qualification course is a minimum of 36 hours, followed by a practical assessment on swimming pool theory, water safety and how to spot potential hazards. The course will teach you the practical skills of lifeguarding, such as water rescue, casualty recovery, CPR and first aid.

What equipment does a lifeguard need in South Africa ?

Types of Safety Equipment Lifeguards Need

Rescue Tubes. This iconic piece of lifeguard safety equipment is essential for basic water rescues in pools, waterparks, lakes, ponds and other non-surf environments.

Rescue Cans.

Rescue Boards.

Ring Buoys.

Life Hook.

Life Vests.

Throw Bags.

Backboards.

Do lifeguards use boats in South Africa ?

Lifeguards and lifesaving boats are as much a part of the shore scene as the surf and sand and boardwalks. These boats are beach launched on rollers by two lifeguards.