Indy Parks Boosts Lifeguard Pay

Indy Parks is bumping up pay in an effort to get more lifeguards on the deck. Pools around Indianapolis are set to open next week. 

The parks department is hoping to hire up to 40 more lifeguards by increasing pay to $13 an hour and offering other monetary incentives.

Aquatic Supervisor with Indy Parks Jordan Elder said one of those is a $100 dollar referral bonus.

“As long as they complete their training and work 100 hours, you get an extra $100 and that can happen as many times as you want it to happen,” Elder said.

Indy Parks worked with the Office of Finance and Management to secure the funding.

Traditionally it’s been hard to staff pools with enough qualified lifeguards during the summer. The reasons vary and barriers include paying for training, lack of qualifications and conflicts with the school year.

Indy Parks says training costs $10 and scholarships are available.

In a written statement Indy Parks Director Linda Broadfoot said she hopes offering a competitive wage will help.

“It has been a tough year for hiring across the city and nation. We are hopeful that increasing the starting pay and incentives for our lifeguards will encourage more people to apply and fill these important positions,” Broadfoot said.

Youth and adults may apply and Elder said he sees both working at local pools.

“Full time teachers being pool managers and head lifeguards as well, so this is not just a 16 year-old gig,” Elder said.

Last summer the parks department only opened five pools because of the pandemic. There are plans to open nine this summer. A final schedule will be out in the coming days.