Baywatch Pay is Pretty Sweet

G

general35

5,000+ Posts
High pay and benefits for lifeguards in Newport Beach is the latest example of frustrating levels of compensation for public employees. More than half the city’s full-time lifeguards are paid a salary of over $100,000 and all but one of them collect more than $100,000 in total compensation including benefits.

When thinking about career options with high salaries, lifeguarding is probably not one of the first jobs to come to mind. But it apparently should. In one of Orange County’s most desirable beach destinations, Newport Beach, lifeguards are compensated all too well; especially compared with the county annual median household income of $71,735.

It might be time for a career change.

According to a city report on lifeguard pay for the calendar year 2010, of the 14 full-time lifeguards, 13 collected more than $120,000 in total compensation; one lifeguard collected $98,160.65. More than half the lifeguards collected more than $150,000 for 2010 with the two highest-paid collecting $211,451 and $203,481 in total compensation respectively. Even excluding benefits like health care and pension, more than half the lifeguards receive a total salary, including overtime pay, exceeding $100,000. And they also receive an annual allowance of $400 for “Sun Protection.” Many work four days a week, 10 hours a day.

A YouTube video created by Americans for Prosperity-California, an education advocacy organization concerned with limited government, lower taxation, and free-market principles, outlined how in Newport Beach a “recently retired lifeguard, age 51, receives a government retirement of over $108,000 per year for the rest of his life.” The video also notes that “He will make well over $3 million in retirement if he lives to age 80!”
The Link
 
eek.gif


time to 1099 (indep. contract) those folks. wonder if we 1099'ed govern. employees how many of them would be signing up for jobs.
 
except more thna half of them make double what the avg family median income is. further, they are getting a 6 figure pension which is the equivalent of an additional 3 million dollars if they live to a decent age.
 
Exorbitant, no doubt. I wonder how it got so high. That beach is one of the more expensive areas to live in greater LA.

This also seems like a local issue that I don't really need to care much about.
 
Most people in so Cal don't make that kind of money. Cost of living my ***.

A lifeguard making 6 figs... Sorry to see your economy in the shape it's in Cali. Gee I dunno how it could have possibly gone awry....
 
This is why the people who actually pay the taxes aren't interested in paying anymore. Squeeze this kind of BS out of the system, then come ask me to pay a "larger fair share".
 
The federal funds issue does make this somewhat relevant if the paying entity is receiving federal funds.

Here in Texas, I see Government cutting deep into bone and sinew in some departments. I know state workers who generally don't get raises and haven't for years. Even the merit raises or COAs barely cover the employees share of the cost of benefits.

I see these stories about waste or absurd salaries in other localities, usually small ones, and I get the feeling the stories are being used to fuel anger and support notions about other parts of government that are not true.

We're cheap in Texas. We want more than we are willing to pay for. Every legislative session, the lege passes mandates without funding and demands the work be done by workforces they insist on cutting. The claim that government does not work becomes a self fulfilling prophecy when you starve it.
 
Does anybody know why they are comparing the lifeguard’s total compensation package to median income? Does anybody think that’s disingenuous? First, the two numbers are different things. Second, median and average are different things. Could be a group that are EMTs? I don't know how they are staffed.

Either way, your point still stands. Sounds like a sweet job and makes a pretty good living.
 
Well they are doing easier work than CPS workers in Texas for about four times the pay. Guess which group of employees needs to watch out when the Legislature is in session.
 
Uninformed,

You're just imagining things and believing them. You haven't bothered to know what you are talking about.

I changed the subject to Texas because the life guards of Newport Beach, CA is not terribly relevant to me in Austin, Texas. That was my point. The high salaries of the life guards doesn't mean much to me in evaluating what we need to do in state government here in Texas. The story does seem to fuel the idle speculation of people who want to believe something without bothering to know anything about it.

The shot in the dark about immigrants in South Texas was rank speculation and not really on target about what I was talking about.
 
Roma, if I am imaging things it is because you were vague. I re-read your post a few times. When you say things like Texas "cuts to the bone and sinew" and "We're cheap in Texas. We want more than we are willing to pay for", it makes people think that government in Texas doesn't waste money like Newport, CA. If that is reading into things so be it.

If you didn't want to talk about Texas waste, stick to Newport. You also stated that the salary seems high but that Newport is expensive. While you are correct that Newport is expensive, government should not pay more than a job is worth. The average lifeguard salary is $24,000 for job postings nationwide and is 67% lower than average salaries for all job postings nationwide. The reason salaries are low is because the job qualifications are not too terribly difficult and because people like the work. It is fun. People like to say they are lifeguards in Newport. There would be a flood of applicants for an opening regardless of salary.

If you are interested, here is a job posting and some photos of employees:

Lifeguard Cadet Program

The Newport Beach Lifeguard Cadet Program is a continuation of the Lifeguard Trainee program which is organized through the Fire/Lifeguard Training Division. Individuals interested in the Lifeguard Cadet Program must apply for the Lifeguard Trainee position prior to the final filing date of March 9, 2011 at 5pm.

Both the Lifeguard Trainee and Cadet positions require that individuals be at least 16 years of age prior to April 1st, 2011 and pass a competitive ocean swim, run-swim-run tryout. The top candidates from the tryouts may be invited to an oral interview. Candidates successful in passing the oral interview may be given a conditional offer of employment to participate in the Basic Lifeguard Academy.

The Lifeguard Cadet Program provides Lifeguard Trainees the opportunity to further skills and techniques used in ocean rescue, emergency decision making, first responder medical treatment and public assistance. The Program is designed to continue daily training practices on lifesaving techniques necessary for Seasonal Ocean Lifeguards, as well as to provide safety for Newport Beach Lifeguard Programs

Individuals that successfully complete the Basic Lifeguard Academy will be placed on an eligibility list. Based on Lifeguard Operational needs, candidates may be promoted to either a Lifeguard Cadet or a Lifeguard I. The Link




dm1mk9.jpg
 
It seems like a lot of money, and the only thing I will say is it isn't as easy as some of you think. Being a lifeguard at a pool is easy. Being a lifeguard at the beach-not easy.
I was a lifeguard one summer in Galveston at a hotel pool, and this is not a hard job, although it is remotely possible you might have to jump in to save someone one day.
At the beach across the street it was a different story. Those guys earned my respect. They have to go in rough water conditions and pull out panicking tourists who get washed up against barnacle covered piers on a frequent basis, risking their lives every time. The first thing a drowning person reaches for is your neck, and they grab hold with a death grip. You have to fight them to save them.
But yeah, the rest of the time they put zinc oxide on their nose and look at the girl in the photo above.
You can have teenagers home for the summer be the lifeguards at the pools, but at the beach you do need professionals, and it does cost a lot to live in California.
 
Well, at least we have Republicans looking out for the tax burden for the Lifeguards at the upper end of the salary scale. Democrats don't seem to care much about taxes of those making more than $200k per year.
 
Accurate and Yo,

I understand your points, but the issue is not that the job is tough (being a cop is tougher and more dangerous and they make a lot less) or that $120K is a little or a lot of money. The issue is that the compensation package is way out of line with the market place. Like I said earlier, I would guarantee that if you posted all of those jobs for lifeguards and cut the pay 30% and the benefits 75%, thousands of qualified folks would apply.

Being a lifeguard (and I agree completely that what they do is important and physically challenging) was never meant to be a career. The fact that anyone can earn a 6 figure annual pension from being a lifeguard is insane. You just do not need to spend anywhere like that kind of money to have the same level of competent people. I could see maybe 1 guy being a mainstay, but no more.

It is a job that fit 22 year olds can be trained to do in a matter of weeks and that they can do for 4-5 years until they want to get into the real world. There is an unending stream of folks that would love to do that job for several years and have fun doing it for $6K a month.
 
Newport is expensive, all coastal areas are, but who says they have to live in newport? they could move away from the coast for 10 miles and be in a much cheaper area. they do not have to pay them at a level that can support an entire family. 150k is a lot anywhere. then throw in the retirement at 51 at over 100k a year. i mean seriously? its not over the top?
 
regardless, making 120K a year is barely enough for a house, 2 cars, and 2 kids in private school. It's not like these lifeguards are rich.
__________________________________________________

why send them to private school when the kids can go to a public school that makes westlake in austin look like a bunch of poor kids.
 
making 250k a year today may be rich to obama but it is barely enough for a house, 2 cars, and 2 kids in private school. it isnt rich.
__________________________________________________

what does this have to do with a public sector employee getting sun all day? Should tax dollars go to make these people rich? In addition to their salary, they are getting a fund of about 3 million to pay their pension. id like to be able to save 100k per year for my own little pension.
 
As a lifeguard at Boy Scout camp in 1968 I received $15/wk. I also got free food at the mess hall and use of a tent to sleep in. But even with those bennies I was well below Newport Beach pay.
 
I'm just so glad that those lifeguards are making.$40,000+ more than Navy 5eals.

And to respond to an earlier post, if we didn't have to provide free education and healthcare for illegal aliens, there would be fewer budget problems.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

NEW: Pro Sports Forums

Cowboys, Texans, Rangers, Astros, Mavs, Rockets, etc. Pro Longhorns. The Chiefs and that Swift gal. This is the place.

Pro Sports Forums

Recent Threads

Back
Top