VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Volusia County is grappling with a lifeguard shortage, and officials are increasing pay in hopes of attracting young adults and teens to join their ranks.
This year, Volusia County raised the starting pay from $17 an hour to $18.50, along with a $1,750 bonus. Despite these incentives, the county still faces difficulties in recruiting young people.
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“We do know it’s very physical, it’s very demanding, you’re out on that tower all day. You don’t have your phone, can’t have your phone out there, can’t have your social media. It may be a generational thing. We keep bumping up that pay in hopes that it will help,” said Tammy Malphurs, Volusia’s Beach Safety Director.
Malphurs noted that beach organizations nationwide are experiencing similar challenges, contributing to the ongoing lifeguard shortage.
“Right now, we have about 135 seasonal positions open. We did have our first ever fall recruit class, which was very successful,” she said.
Currently, the county is hosting tryouts to fill these open positions, with 180 seasonal lifeguards already employed.
“It’s more than a summer job. You’re building life-saving skills,” Malphurs emphasized.
To qualify, candidates must be at least 16 years old, able to swim 500 meters freestyle in under 10 minutes, swim 50 yards freestyle in under 30 seconds, and run a half mile in under 3 minutes and 15 seconds.
“It’s very challenging mentally and physically, but it’s a great job. You’re going to create great memories out here and this type of job makes you very successful for future careers,” Malphurs added.
If all positions aren’t filled, there will still be plenty of lifeguards on duty, though there may be fewer lifeguards in towers than usual. Malphurs advises beachgoers to swim in front of staffed towers, as all nine drownings in 2024 occurred in unguarded sections of the beach.
Those interested in trying out can find the information on the county’s website here.