12 Comments
User's avatar
Lva's avatar

The math isn’t mathing. Can you give more detail as to the costs that total $70mn for 134 lifeguards? It’s not in total comp. Every one of them would need to make 522k+ to reach that number.

Adam's avatar

Yeah, if the top 134 lifeguards earned a total of $70.8 million, that would mean each of those 134 earned on average $528,358

But the claim is that the top earner made $523,351. Which would make averaging of $528k mathematically impossible.

Math ain’t mathing at all

HardeeHo's avatar

Remarkable how generous we are to important public servants. Those salaries seem well beyond most citizens.

john's avatar

Don't you feel sorry for these poor government employees? Hahaha

And people wonder why taxes and cost of living is out of control in California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois and other left wing/liberal locales. I have a retired fireman family member in NJ, who has been retired since age, 52 making $140,000/year + lifetime "Gold-plated" healthcare and other benefits.

The pay these people receive is pure theft...folly..unsustainable, and against the very concept, "For the greater good.'

GoodBooks's avatar

I'm going to quit telling kids who don't want to go to college to consider the army and tell them to apply for a lifeguard position in LA.

Eve D's avatar

My guess is these people are being overpaid to look the other way in times of disasters. AND to keep their mouths shut if/when the media ask for commentary or opinions during times of anomalies in fires, weather, ocean events...you name it. They are being over paid to be 'mum'.

FrankyZ's avatar

What's the point here? That you cmd+f "lifeguard" and found people that make more than you think they should? These positions are responsible for protecting people over 70 miles coastline, not sitting by a pool and doing next to nothing.

Oh! And none of this is a secret, here's open California's compensation for every employee: https://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/2023/los-angeles/

Momcat's avatar

I remember when I was a lifeguard as a summer job between college semesters making minimum wage. the worst part of the job was putting up with six year olds in beginning swimming classes. and there was no overtime, ever.

INGRID C DURDEN's avatar

Wow! How much do they pay firefighters, policemen, and other safety personnel? they all put themselves in harms way to save others.

Lickyouallover25cents's avatar

The people living there vote for this. No sympathy. Don't bring this malfeasance to my locality.

Juliana Swanson's avatar

Holy Hell! "The top-paid lifeguard in LA county was compensated more than $500,000 in 2024; and over the past 5 years, a single lifeguard was able to pull down $702,000 – in overtime alone!"