High pay and benefits for lifeguards in Newport Beach is the latest example of frustrating levels of compensation for public employees. More than half the city’s full-time lifeguards are paid a salary of over $100,000 and all but one of them collect more than $100,000 in total compensation including benefits.
When thinking about career options with high salaries, lifeguarding is probably not one of the first jobs to come to mind. But it apparently should. In one of Orange County’s most desirable beach destinations, Newport Beach, lifeguards are compensated all too well; especially compared with the county annual median household income of $71,735.
It might be time for a career change.
According to a city report on lifeguard pay for the calendar year 2010, of the 14 full-time lifeguards, 13 collected more than $120,000 in total compensation; one lifeguard collected $98,160.65. More than half the lifeguards collected more than $150,000 for 2010 with the two highest-paid collecting $211,451 and $203,481 in total compensation respectively. Even excluding benefits like health care and pension, more than half the lifeguards receive a total salary, including overtime pay, exceeding $100,000. And they also receive an annual allowance of $400 for “Sun Protection.” Many work four days a week, 10 hours a day.
Lifeguarding in Newport Beach is a pretty good gig, if you can get it.
‘Cause I’m always there,
I won’t let you out of my sight.
I’ll be there–never you fear
I’ll be there–forever and always
With a pension like this
I’m always here.
Remember: these are not the guys and gals who run in and save you.
Those workers only get a paltry $16 to $22 an hour with NO benefits for their part-time work.
Nope, these high paying jobs go the the men-behind-the-scenes.
Men who paint the lifeguard stations, buy new bathing suits, and so forth.
And because those non-life-savers are so expensive, in retirement, Newport Beach will have to make do with fewer actual lifeguards!
There’s liberal logic for you!
Taken to its only conclusion liberal logic in pay/benefits/retirement scale cannot stand …. for long.
But do they care?