City of Phoenix Currently Hiring Lifeguards To Staff City Pools This Summer

The City of Phoenix is looking to hire hundreds of lifeguards to staff the city’s pools for the summer.

Hiring a full staff to manage the city’s 29 pools is a major task and has been a problem since the pandemic. The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department have reported their hiring challenges have been centered around competitive pay from retail giants that they are competing against.

The City of Phoenix needs a minimum of 650 lifeguards to open each of the 29 pools. Last year they didn’t reach their hiring goal and were only able to hire 380 to 400 lifeguards throughout the summer of 2022. As a result they were only able to open 14 pools.

In 2023, Phoenix is hoping than an extra incentive will attract more potential lifeguard hires to city pools.

Phoenix will offer a $3,000 incentive on top of lifeguard pay at $15.72 an hour. Lifeguards must be at least 15 years old to apply and must be a certified lifeguard.

Becoming a Certified Lifeguard

-A lifeguard pre-requisite is a 300-yard swim, which equates to 12 laps in the pool.
-Must be able to tread water in deep water without their hands

-Obtaining a 10-pound object off the bottom of the deep end

-Certified in First Aid, CPR, and AED

The city of Phoenix is one of the biggest resources that families turn to for swimming lessons in the summer months. The city is also looking to hire those interested in teaching swim lessons. This very important life-saving necessity is greatly needed in our community to prevent drownings.

For those who are interested in applying for a position as a lifeguard, but may not yet possess the skills to be ready to work in the deep end of a pool, there is a new position this year. The city will be hiring at all of their pools a shallow water lifeguard.

City of Phoenix pools are scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend.

Click here to learn more information on becoming a lifeguard with the City of Phoenix.