- Department of Conservation & Recreation
Media Contact
Peter Jasinski, DCR Press Secretary
Boston — The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) today announced a targeted effort to recruit lifeguards, swim instructors and other waterfront safety personnel for agency-managed pools and beaches in Greater Boston and communities north of the city ahead of the summer season, where the agency continues to see its greatest hiring needs. Hourly salaries for certified lifeguard applicants range from $22 to $27, with additional bonuses available for staff who work through the end of the season.
“Spending time in and around the water is an essential part of summer in Massachusetts, and our ability to safely open our pools and beaches depends on having well-trained lifeguards and water safety staff in place,” said DCR Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle. “Many of our lifeguards return year after year, but we still have critical hiring needs in Boston and communities north of the city. These are good-paying jobs that offer an opportunity to serve the public, gain valuable experience, and play a direct role in keeping families and visitors safe.”
DCR’s Bureau of Pool and Waterfront Safety is making a concerted effort to staff pools and beaches across its Boston and northern regions, which include:
- Artesani Playground Wading Pool, Brighton
- Francis J. McCrehan Memorial Swimming and Wading Pool, Cambridge
- Veterans Memorial Swimming Pool (Magazine Beach), Cambridge
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial Pool, Chelsea
- Allied Veterans Memorial Swimming Pool, Everett
- Geisler Memorial Swimming Pool, Lawrence
- Lt. Col. Edward J. Higgins Swimming Pool, Lawrence
- Lt. Dennis C. Holland Memorial Swimming Pool, Malden
- Lloyd Memorial Pool, Melrose
- Revere Beach, Revere
- Melnea A. Cass Swimming Pool, Roxbury
- Salisbury Beach, Salisbury
- Latta Brothers Memorial Pool, Somerville
- Connors Memorial Swimming Pool, Waltham
- Clarence W. Dealtry Memorial Swimming and Wading Pool, Watertown
- Shannon Beach, Winchester
While DCR’s greatest staffing needs are in the North and Boston regions, the agency is continuing to recruit water safety staff for the summer for properties in other areas of the state.
To apply for a lifeguard position, candidates must be at least 16 years old by their date of hire, complete lifeguard training, and be certified in first aid and CPR. Free lifeguard training classes are offered by DCR through May for candidates who commit to working before the start of the summer season. For more information on the available trainings, visit DCR’s lifeguard webpage or contact Eric Hammermeister-Kahn, Director of Pool and Waterfront Safety Training, at Eric.Hammermeister-Kahn@mass.gov.
Most of DCR’s pool and waterfront positions are seasonal, with a 40-hour workweek, including weekends and holidays. Limited part-time lifeguard and instructor positions (up to 20 hours per week) may also be available. To learn more about available pool and waterfront positions or to apply for open positions, visit DCR’s lifeguard webpage.
DCR will open its 81 designated swimming areas across Massachusetts on the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend (May 23-25, 2026), and the season will run through Sunday, August 30, 2026. Lifeguard services will begin at several early start beaches throughout the parks system on May 23 and continue with weekend coverage until mid-June, when coverage will be provided seven days a week and expand to additional waterfronts.
DCR is working closely with partner state agencies, local officials, municipalities, schools and workforce organizations to expand outreach about these opportunities for good paying summer employment. As part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s commitment to water safety, DCR continues to expand its efforts to recruit multilingual lifeguards and water safety staff to better serve visitors at state beaches and pools. The agency is running multilingual recruitment advertising campaigns across the MBTA transit system, on digital highway message boards and in multicultural media outlets across the state.
In addition to water safety roles, DCR is hiring for a range of seasonal positions for the upcoming summer season including park rangers, interpreters, forestry assistants, building and ground maintenance workers, campground and park operations staff and office assistants. Interested applicants can learn more on DCR’s seasonal recruitment webpage.
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