It’s not just the waves making a splash in Los Angeles this Fourth of July. The hefty paychecks of lifeguards in the city are also turning heads. According to a recent report by the fiscal watchdog group OpenTheBooks, at least one Los Angeles County lifeguard earned over half a million dollars last year. Meanwhile, 34 lifeguards brought in $300,000 or more during 2024, and 134 earned at least $200,000 in base pay, overtime, and other benefits.
Taxpayers in Los Angeles County, accustomed to high costs, might find it “unsettling” to learn about these figures, especially as the city continues to grapple with a shortage of firefighters and police officers, struggles to manage wildfires, and attempts to reduce violent crime to pre-pandemic levels. John Hart, CEO of OpenTheBooks, expressed concerns, stating, “Lifeguards who risk their lives protecting the public deserve to be well compensated, but paying them more than $500,000 may be unsettling to taxpayers who are drowning in debt.”
Sky-High Salaries Amid City Challenges
The report reveals that L.A. County’s 134 highest-paid lifeguards collectively earned $70.8 million last year, averaging over $500,000 in total compensation per person. This figure includes base and overtime pay, alongside “other” compensation such as leave time payouts, health insurance, pension contributions, deferred contributions, long-term disability, and life insurance payouts. The highest-paid lifeguard reportedly earned $523,351 in total compensation in 2024.
Los Angeles County’s lifeguard division is recognized as one of the largest professional lifeguard services in the United States. In addition to high-paid lifeguards, whose duties range from supervising swimmers to conducting major maritime rescues and emergency responses, there are numerous lower-paid lifeguards, bringing the total number in the Los Angeles area to around 1,500.
Historical Context and Broader Implications
OpenTheBooks, known for tracking government spending, reported in 2021 that top-paid lifeguards in Los Angeles County earned up to $510,283, with nearly half of that amount attributed to overtime pay. That year, 98 lifeguards in the county made at least $200,000. The trend of excessive overtime pay is not unique to Los Angeles. In Seattle, for instance, police officers have faced disciplinary actions for repeatedly violating the city’s overtime policy. A patrol officer in Seattle made more than the mayor, police chief, or any other city employee in 2019, earning over $414,000.
Similarly, in Chicago, the city is dealing with a growing budget shortfall. Records obtained by a local news outlet revealed that during the first six months of 2024, Chicago had already spent 30% more than was allocated for police overtime pay. In New York, a former department chief for the NYPD is currently under investigation for alleged overtime abuse and other crimes.
Political and Economic Reactions
The issue of high lifeguard salaries and excessive overtime pay has also entered the political arena. Republicans have introduced a “big beautiful bill” aimed at helping overtime workers take home more pay by eliminating taxes on tips. Initially, the House’s version of the bill had no limit on how much overtime pay could be exempt, but the Senate’s version capped it at $12,500.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Los Angeles County public information office for comment, but did not receive a response by press time. The debate over lifeguard salaries in Los Angeles highlights broader concerns about public sector compensation and budget management, especially in cities facing financial constraints.
As Los Angeles continues to navigate its financial challenges, the high earnings of its lifeguards remain a contentious issue, prompting discussions about the balance between fair compensation and fiscal responsibility.
