Pinellas County Hiring Lifeguards Ahead of Busy Beach Season Amid Shortage
As recently reported by FOX 13 Tampa Bay, local government officials in Pinellas County Florida are urgently recruiting lifeguards for key positions at Fort De Soto Park and Sand Key Park, offering competitive pay that starts at $20 per hour and including all necessary training for new hires. With only weeks before peak tourist and beach attendance, county leaders want towers staffed so that residents and visitors alike can enjoy the water safely.
The need for more lifeguards isn’t just a local issue — it’s a statewide and national challenge. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, municipalities across the country have faced difficulty filling lifeguard roles at beaches and pools, leading to staffing gaps at some of the busiest waterfronts.
At Sand Key, a sign reading “No Lifeguard on Duty” on a recent evening illustrated the reality of these shortages. Many parents, like local father Pauly Hutchison, are taking extra precautions. Hutchison said that even though his children are strong swimmers, he keeps life jackets on them near open water, noting, “It just takes half a second, and then your life is over.” His sentiment underscores the danger of unguarded water and the crucial role professional lifeguards play in public safety.
Experts emphasize the difference lifeguards make. According to Nathalie Martin, founder of the Swim Global Project and a veteran lifeguard with decades of experience, only about 1% of drownings occur in areas monitored by lifeguards — a statistic that highlights how impactful proper staffing is for water safety.
To help address this issue, the American Lifeguard Association (ALA) has been active at the national level in expanding access to lifeguard training and certification. ALA’s blended learning programs combine online coursework with in-water practical skill sessions, making certification more accessible to people with busy schedules. This flexible approach helps remove barriers to entry for younger people, college students, and adults looking for seasonal or professional roles.
Additionally, ALA partners with municipalities, parks, and pools to offer group training and employer-supported certification pathways. Instead of requiring applicants to come already certified, many agencies can now recruit first and then certify, which significantly broadens the pool of potential lifeguards.
The organization also promotes lifeguarding as both a community service and a valuable career opportunity, encouraging higher wages and professional recognition to attract and retain guards. By advocating for nationally recognized certification standards and providing resources about aquatic safety, ALA aims to strengthen community water safety nationwide and ease the lifeguard shortage that agencies like Pinellas County are currently facing.