Lifeguards in this Democrat-controlled city are raking in 6-figure incomes on taxpayers' dime

It's not just the waves making a splash in Los Angeles this Fourth of July - lifeguards' sky-high paychecks are turning heads, too.

L.A. County's 134 highest-paid lifeguards earned a combined $70.8 million last year, according to OpenTheBooks - averaging over $500,000 in total compensation per person. In addition to base and overtime pay, the dollar amount also includes "other" pay, leave time payouts, health insurance payments, pension contributions, deferred contributions, long-term disability and life insurance payouts.

The highest paid lifeguard OpenTheBooks found brought in $523,351 in base pay, "other pay," and benefits in 2024.

L.A. County's lifeguard division is recognized as one of the largest professional lifeguard services in the country. According to OpenTheBooks, in addition to higher-paid lifeguards, whose duties can range from watching swimmers to major maritime rescues and emergency response, there are a slew of lower-paid lifeguards that bring the total number of them in the Los Angeles-area to around 1,500.

OpenTheBooks, which tracks wasteful spending across the government, reported in 2021 that the top-paid lifeguards in Los Angeles County earned up to $510,283 - nearly half of which was overtime pay. That year, 98 lifeguards in L.A. County made at least $200,000.

In 2024, overtime pay played a major role in boosting lifeguard earnings in Los Angeles.

Beyond Los Angeles, excessive overtime pay has sparked debate in other cities - particularly those grappling with major budget shortfalls.

Overtime abuse has been an issue in other major cities like New York and Chicago, as well. In Chicago, where the city faces a growing budget shortfall, records obtained by a local news outlet found that during the first six months of 2024, the city had already spent 30% more than was allocated for police overtime pay. In New York, a former department chief for the NYPD is currently under investigation for alleged overtime abuse and other crimes.  

Republicans' "big beautiful bill" is purported to help overtime workers bring home even more, with its "no tax on tips" provision. Initially, the House's version of the bill had no limit on how much overtime pay could be exempt, but the Senate's version of the bill capped it at $12,500.    

Fox News Digital reached out to the Los Angeles County public information office for comment but did not hear back by press time.