Contents
- A look into the life of a Lifeguard / Rescue Craft Operator in Hawaii (Oahu)
- Exact steps to become a lifeguard in Hawaii
- A detailed look at their pay, lifestyle and reality of the job
Baseline Info: Lifeguards/Rescue Craft Operators w/ Honolulu Ocean Safety
- Rescue over 2,500 people every year around Oahu.
- Protect 227 miles of coast line
- Have over 40 towers and 8 jetski rescue units
About Dave and Dylan
- Dave has been lifeguarding with Honolulu Ocean Safety for 35 years
- Dylan has been lifeguarding with HOS for 15 years
- They run a rescue unit together (truck, trailer, jetski)
- When called, they launch the rescue craft (jetski) and go save people
- They have thousands of rescues each
- They love going to work every day!
An average day
- Show up at 8am
- Prep/inspect medical equipment
- Dry start, check fluids & hours of jetski, connect to truck
- Load wetsuits, fins, PFDs and other gear into truck
- Hit a morning workout in their gym
- Load up, start patrolling the shoreline in their district
- Observe conditions like the size of the swell, wind, current etc
- Prevent incidents by warning people of dangers they’ve identified
- Post up at a high-injury beach like Sandy Beach Park, ready to launch
- Lunch break: lunch from home, then a run, swim or surf
- Continue patrolling their territory via truck till around 530
- Download, clean and restock all equipment
- Leave work at 630
- *Their call volume dictates their schedule. This is a day with zero calls
- *Some days they conduct rescues non-stop and don’t have time for workouts or lunch
Schedule
- 4x10 hours days per week
- Some work 4 days in a row, others in 1 or two day chunks
- Expect to work holidays
- You accrue 21 days paid-time-off and 21 days sick-leave per year
- You have to request days off ahead of time, more seniority = more preference
- Maternity / paternity leave is available
Pay (pre-tax, as of May 2026)
- $52k/yr ($25.06/hr): New contract lifeguards working 4 days or more per week
- $52-$65k/yr: Typical First several years’ annual salary
- $70-80k/yr: Lifeguard/rescue craft operator/EMT w/ 12+ yrs exp, pulling frequent overtime
- $100k+/yr: Lifeguard/rescue craft operator w/20-30 years exp, higher rank like lt., cpt
- Medical, dental and vision insurance are provided
- Retirement plan (pension, medical benefits) at 30 years
- Extra pay is given for certs like EMT/Medic, Rescue Craft Operator, ranks like lt., capt etc
- Pay is 1.5x on holidays
- There are lots of overtime work opportunities
- The lifeguarding union negotiates for pay raises every 4 years
- Expect Hawaii’s taxes to take 30%-40% of your income
Is entry level lifeguarding income enough to support you in Hawaii?
- Single people: probably not
- Married people: definitely not
- Plan to have another job, side hustle, dual income etc.
- A lot of lifeguards have other jobs on the island like being a surf instructor, deck hand etc.
- Plan to live modestly even w/ two jobs
- For Reference: Avg. rent - 1br. Apartment in Honolulu: $2,200/month
- *Remember: These lifeguards aren’t in it for the money. They’re in it because they love their jobs and love saving people’s lives. When I (Chris) was shadowing one of them earlier today, he told me that when he injured his leg, he was bummed that he couldn’t go to work. That kind of satisfaction in your job beats a higher paying, soul-sucking office job every day of the week!
How to become a lifeguard and rescue craft operator in Hawaii (as of May, 2026)
- Ensure you have have/have completed:
- GED/Highschool diploma
- Valid driver’s license
- Basic first aid class
- American Red Cross or YMCA Lifeguarding training class
- CPR or Basic Life Support certificate
- Pick a tryout from their posted dates online/facebook/potentially at the towers
- Attend a crush that tryout consisting of
- 1000 yard run, 1000 yard ocean swim, under 25 mins
- 400 yard paddle on rescue board w/ turns in under 4 mins
- 100 yard sprint, 100 yard swim, 100 yard sprint in under 3 mins
- Next, pass a background check
- Attend a second tryout (on Oahu it's usually at Hanauma Bay)
- This tryout consists of physical and medical scenario tests to see where you’re at
- Once selected, You start a 5 week class consisting of
- 2 weeks EMR training (medical)
- 2 weeks USLA training (lifeguard skills like rescue techniques, surf training etc)
- 1 week (roughly) of other skills like atv training
- Once you Pass, you’re awarded with your lifeguard certification and start working as a contract worker
- **Being a contract guard is basically like being ‘new’, similar to being on probation. Your contract must be re-approved annually. You must work at least 3 days a week and may have the option to work more.
To progress from contract to a full time (permanent) position:
- Tryout:
- 1000 yard run, 1000 yard ocean swim, under 25 mins
- Interview and get hired into a full time position
To progress from full time lifeguard to lifeguard + rescue craft operator
- Complete 1 year of probation working full time
- Complete 2 more years - post probation - as a fully qualified lifeguard
- Find out when the next RCO tryout is and pay for/attend these courses:
- Thrill Craft License (jetski license course, a few days)
- Coast Guard Aux. course (boating course, couple days to a week)
- NASBLA online course
- Pass the written exam for rescue operator (covers things like rescue skills, incident command chains etc)
- Pass the Physical Tryout
- 1000 yard run, 1000 yard ocean swim, under *20 mins
- Deadlift 275 lbs and hold for 20 seconds
- Push jetski on sand dollies 75 yards in under a minute
- Swim / tow the jetski 100-200 yards in a few minute period
- Pass these other evals:
- Complete the Jetski Buoy course (like driving a course with cones in a car in a limited amount of time)
- Back in the truck / trailer around a 90 degree turn in less than 3 minutes
- Pass everything and start the 5-6 week jetski course
- In this course, you’re riding, loading and unloading the jetski 10 hours a day, 4 days a week
- You’ll become extremely proficient riding the jetski in high surf and will be certified as rescue craft operator
Pros
- Saving Lives
- Helping people
- Get to be at the beach and ocean everyday
- Surf, body board, run etc during lunch breaks
- Pretty good health benefits, sick pay, holiday pay
The Hard Parts
- Living in Hawaii is expensive! Money will be tight
- Sun exposure all day wears you down
- Mental stress, you’re responsible for people’s lives
- Schedule and lifestyle sacrifices. You work weekends and getting days off can be hard
- Risk of Injury
Danger Score
- 7/10
- The ocean is incredibly powerful and jumping into to rescue people is inherently risky
- They operate an 800lb jetski in 20 ft. surf
- They do 40ft+ cliff jumps into the water when that's the fastest way to reach the victim
- They swim panicking people to shore who may be actively fighting them in the water
- They work in situations where a slight mis-timing could result in them being thrown against rocks/cliffs themselves
- They drive expediently through traffic to respond to emergencies
- Decently high potential for injury but deaths are extremely rare
This job is perfect for you if
- You love the ocean and want to be surrounded by cool, fit people
- You stay calm and focused in intense situations
- You have a great attitude and are excited to jump into the fray
- You’re in it because you love helping people and are cool working an extra job
- You’re more focused on enjoying life and helping others than chasing higher paying jobs and climbing the work ladder
Reality Check
- You get to save people’s lives, work at the beach and enjoy a fun lifestyle
- Some days are ‘chill’, and you get paid to workout, post up at a tower and go surfing on your lunch break.
- Other days, you’re conducting rescues non-stop and can’t break for lunch or a workout
- 10 hour days in the sun and on the jetski are taxing
- People do this job because they love it, not because it pays well. You will probably have to live more modestly here than you would on the mainland
Lifestyle
- Get paid to help people and be at the beach
- Use lunch breaks to surf, run or bodyboard
- Live on a beautiful island
- Hang with awesome people who enjoy their jobs
- Have fun, spend frugally
Now you know how it really is! If you want it, make it happen!
Author: Chris Barnett (IG: dangerousjobs_, personal: chris.barnett_)
Honolulu Ocean Safety (hiring page/ref. linked)
Big thanks to Dylan, Dave, Chris and everyone at Honolulu Ocean Safety. They let me spend a day with them and even took me on a gnarly 2 hour jetski ride! Really appreciate it.