Seven lifeguards in Los Angeles made more than $300,000 a year including benefits, and 82 made more than $200,000, government watchdog group OpenTheBooks found.
The top-paid lifeguard made $392,000 in compensation in 2020, and 31 lifeguards made between $50,000 and $131,000 in just overtime.
Lifeguards can retire at age 55 and get 79% of their pay for life.
OpenTheBooks founder Adam Andrzejewski attributed the largesse to the strength of the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Association union.
“How is it possible that your hard-earned tax dollars are spent like this? Answer: Public-sector unions — in this case, the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Association (LACOLA). Consider it the teachers union for Baywatch. Since 1995, the union has collectively bargained for better wages, hours, benefits, and working conditions. By all measures, they’ve succeeded in gaming the system for their membership,” he wrote.