Tucson Parks and Recreation Seeks Lifeguards and Recreation Workers for Summer

On Feb. 23, 2022, Tucson Mayor and City Council voted to raise the starting rates of pay for various parks and recreation non-permanent classifications. Some of those positions include lifeguards to $15/hour, WSI/Senior Lifeguards to $15.75/hour, class instructors to $20/hour, and Senior Recreation Worker to $15.75/hour. A full list of positions and their salary range changes is viewable here.   

Tucson Parks and Recreation is seeking to hire 170 lifeguards, 125 WSI/Senior Lifeguards, 98 recreation workers, and 48 senior recreation workers to safely manage our summer pool operations, swim lessons, and youth camp programs. 

"By the City of Tucson making a progressive step to set our minimum wage to $15 an hour, gives us the competitive edge in a market where we formerly were the lowest paid for seasonal workers,” said Tucson Parks and Recreation Director Lara Hamwey. “Throughout Tucson, we operate 20 pools, 16 KIDCO sites, and 4 In-Betweeners Club sites during the summer to ensure we can deliver the public’s desire to swim and have safe summer programs for children. Parks and Recreation needed this boost to attract the best talent to our team.”  

Current non-perm positions open for summer: 

• KIDCO Recreation Worker, $15/hour, Apply by Friday, March 18 
• Recreation Worker (Ready, Set, Rec!), $15/hour, Apply by Thursday, March 21 
• Senior Recreation Worker (Ready, Set, Rec!), $15.75/hour, Apply by Thursday, March 21 
• Therapeutic Program Coordinator, $16.54/hour, Apply by Thursday, April 14 
• Therapeutic Senior Recreation Worker, $15.75, Apply by Thursday, April 14 
• Lifeguard, $15/hour, Apply by Sunday, May 22 
• WSI/Senior Lifeguard, $15.75/hour, Apply by Sunday, May 22 

The American Red Cross lifeguard training classes are mandatory for all lifeguarding positions. Tucson Parks and Recreation offers classes for youth to get their certifications (view here). 

• Lifeguard Review - Age 15 or older 
  Saturday, March 19, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Clements Pool 
  Participants must have current American Red Cross Lifeguard certification or possess a certificate with an expiration date of no more than 30 days from the review class date. 
• Lifeguarding Class – Age 15 or older 
  April 2-3, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunnyside Pool 
• Lifeguarding Class – Age 15 or older 
  April 9-10, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunnyside Pool 

The minimum age to be a lifeguard is 15 years old while the minimum age to be a recreation worker is 16 years old. The City of Tucson requires all employees, including lifeguards, to be vaccinated by their scheduled start date. Apply online at Tucsonaz.gov/jobs.