This Fourth of July, it’s not just the waves making a splash in Los Angeles — lifeguards’ massive paychecks are turning heads, too.
A new report from watchdog group OpenTheBooks reveals that one L.A. County lifeguard earned over $500,000 in 2024, while 34 lifeguards took home more than $300,000. Another 134 lifeguards made at least $200,000, combining base pay, overtime, and hefty benefit packages.
"Lifeguards deserve fair compensation," said OpenTheBooks CEO John Hart, "but half-a-million-dollar paychecks are hard to swallow when L.A. is still battling violent crime, wildfires, and shortages of firefighters and police."
In total, the 134 top-earning lifeguards collected $70.8 million — averaging over $500,000 in total compensation per person. That figure includes perks like health insurance, pension contributions, leave payouts, and disability and life insurance benefits.
The top-paid lifeguard reportedly brought in $523,351 in 2024 alone. Overtime pay played a major role in inflating these numbers, just as it did in 2021 when top lifeguards earned as much as $510,283.
L.A. County operates one of the largest professional lifeguard programs in the nation, with about 1,500 lifeguards overseeing everything from beach patrols to ocean rescues and emergency response.
But this isn’t just an L.A. issue. Cities like Seattle, New York, and Chicago are also under scrutiny for overtime abuse — with some workers earning more than their mayors or department heads.
In Chicago, the city has already overspent on police overtime by 30% just halfway through 2024. And in New York, a former NYPD chief is under investigation for raking in excessive overtime while allegedly committing other crimes.
Republicans argue their “Big, Beautiful Bill” will benefit workers with its “no tax on tips” feature. While the original House version had no cap on overtime exemptions, the Senate’s version limits it to $12,500 — still a welcome boost for workers cashing in on long hours.