The Average Salary of Ski Patrollers
- The average ski patroller may expect to earn an hourly wage between $9.75 and $12.26, as of December 2010, according to PayScale. Ski patrol members working at those wages earn between $20,932 and $30,233 annually, though most ski patrol positions are seasonal contracts of four to six months in length. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook lists the mean wage for lifeguards and ski patrol members as $9.85 per hour, as of May 2009.
- Ski patrollers may earn more when they're employed by larger resorts rather than small ones, and location frequently plays a role in earnings. Ski patrol members working around Baltimore may expect annual earnings of $16,068 annually as of December 2010, according to Salary Expert. Those working at the resorts close to Denver earn $16,725, while those around Minneapolis may expect to earn $16,427 a year.
- Benefits packages are relatively rare among ski patrollers, and many may need to purchase their own health care rather than relying on their employer's plan. As of December 2010, 34 percent of ski patrollers received medical benefits as part of their compensation package, and 26 percent were given dental coverage as conditions of their employment, according to PayScale. 23 percent received vision benefits, and two-thirds -- 66 percent -- received no benefits at all.
- Because the cost of housing is frequently high in many resort towns, many ski-industry employers provide employee housing to their workers. Although specifics vary between resorts, some offer employees free housing, while others provide them with housing at greatly reduced rates. This benefit helps defray the impact of the low salary many ski patrollers earn during the course of the season.