Jobs Similar to Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
Also called: Lifeguards
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Crossing Guards and Flaggers, Orderlies and Physical Therapist Aides.
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers: $33,580 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crossing Guards and FlaggersSame group | 79% | $38,100+13% | High school |
| 2 | Orderlies | 79% | $38,290+14% | High school |
| 3 | Physical Therapist Aides | 77% | $35,240+5% | High school |
| 4 | Nursing Assistants | 77% | $42,260+26% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Paramedics | 77% | $60,600+80% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | 76% | $35,450+6% | High school |
| 7 | Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 76% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 8 | Animal Caretakers | 76% | $35,360+5% | High school |
| 9 | Shampooers | 75% | $32,600−3% | High school |
| 10 | Embalmers | 75% | $58,780+75% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 75% | $64,400+92% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Athletic Trainers | 75% | $62,520+86% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Occupational Therapy Aides | 75% | $39,160+17% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Phlebotomists | 74% | $45,230+35% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | 74% | $76,210+127% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Bailiffs | 74% | $56,600+69% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Animal Control WorkersSame group | 74% | $45,660+36% | High school |
| 18 | Security GuardsSame group | 74% | $38,020+13% | High school |
| 19 | Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 74% | $35,510+6% | High school |
| 20 | Physical Therapist Assistants | 73% | $68,380+104% | Training or associate |
- 1Crossing Guards and Flaggers
79% similar · $38,100 (+13%) · High school · Same group
- 2Orderlies
79% similar · $38,290 (+14%) · High school
- 3Physical Therapist Aides
77% similar · $35,240 (+5%) · High school
- 4Nursing Assistants
77% similar · $42,260 (+26%) · Training or associate
- 5Paramedics
77% similar · $60,600 (+80%) · Training or associate
- 6Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
76% similar · $35,450 (+6%) · High school
- 7Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
76% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 8Animal Caretakers
76% similar · $35,360 (+5%) · High school
- 9Shampooers
75% similar · $32,600 (−3%) · High school
- 10Embalmers
75% similar · $58,780 (+75%) · Training or associate
- 11Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
75% similar · $64,400 (+92%) · Training or associate
- 12Athletic Trainers
75% similar · $62,520 (+86%) · Graduate degree
- 13Occupational Therapy Aides
75% similar · $39,160 (+17%) · Training or associate
- 14Phlebotomists
74% similar · $45,230 (+35%) · Training or associate
- 15Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
74% similar · $76,210 (+127%) · Training or associate
- 16Bailiffs
74% similar · $56,600 (+69%) · Training or associate
- 17Animal Control Workers
74% similar · $45,660 (+36%) · High school · Same group
- 18Security Guards
74% similar · $38,020 (+13%) · High school · Same group
- 19Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
74% similar · $35,510 (+6%) · High school
- 20Physical Therapist Assistants
73% similar · $68,380 (+104%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers.
- Animal Control Workers74% similar · $45,660 (+36%)
- Orderlies79% similar · $38,290 (+14%)
- Crossing Guards and Flaggers79% similar · $38,100 (+13%)
- Security Guards74% similar · $38,020 (+13%)
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians76% similar · $35,450 (+6%)
- Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners74% similar · $35,510 (+6%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians (83)
- Orderlies (77)
- Physical Therapist Aides (77)
- Animal Caretakers (76)
- Shampooers (75)
- Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners (74)
- Amusement and Recreation Attendants (73)
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists (73)
- Animal Trainers (72)
- Passenger Attendants (70)
Questions about jobs like lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
What jobs are most similar to lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Crossing Guards and Flaggers (79% similar), Orderlies (79% similar), Physical Therapist Aides (77% similar), Nursing Assistants (77% similar) and Paramedics (77% similar).
Which jobs like lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers ($76,210, +127%; usually training or an associate degree), Physical Therapist Assistants ($68,380, +104%; usually training or an associate degree) and Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses ($64,400, +92%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers ($33,580). Without more preparation than lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers usually need: Animal Control Workers, Orderlies and Crossing Guards and Flaggers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.