L.A. Lifeguards’ Six-Figure Salaries Spark Taxpayer Outrage Amid City Struggles

In Los Angeles, where the sun shines and the waves crash, lifeguards are making more than just a splash—they’re swimming in six-figure salaries, courtesy of taxpayers. A recent report reveals that one L.A. County lifeguard pocketed a jaw-dropping $523,351 in 2024, while 34 others hauled in over $300,000, and 134 earned at least $200,000 in base pay, overtime, and benefits. That’s a combined $70.8 million for the county’s top 134 lifeguards, averaging over half a million each.

While these beachside heroes deserve fair pay for risking their lives, the numbers raise eyebrows when L.A. struggles with firefighter and police shortages, raging wildfires, and persistent violent crime. Taxpayers, already underwater with the city’s financial woes, might find these paychecks tougher to swallow than a mouthful of saltwater. Overtime pay is the main culprit, inflating earnings to levels that rival top executives, not public servants.

This isn’t just an L.A. story. From Seattle to Chicago to New York, overtime abuse is making waves in cities facing budget shortfalls. In L.A., the lifeguard division, one of the largest in the nation, employs about 1,500 lifeguards, with lower-paid roles balancing out the high earners. Still, the question remains: when does generous compensation cross into excess?