A new report by fiscal watchdog group OpenTheBooks has revealed that lifeguards in Los Angeles County are receiving some of the highest pay packages in the nation, with one individual earning over $500,000 in 2024. According to the report, 134 lifeguards in the region earned $300,000 or more in 2024, with the top 34 earning over $300,000 and one surpassing the half-million-dollar mark. The report adds that these figures include base pay, overtime, and other benefits, contributing to a total of over $70.8 million in lifetime compensation for the 134 lifeguards, averaging over $500,000 per person.
OpenTheBooks CEO John Hart has expressed concern over the lavish pay packages, noting that taxpayers in Los Angeles are already burdened with a significant debt load. Hart stated to Fox News Digital that while lifeguards who risk their lives for the public deserve fair compensation, the high pay for some in Los Angeles may be unsettling.