Government: Lifeguards' High Pay Riles Newport Beach

... most of the fulltime lifeguards in [Newport Beach] earn well over $100,000 in total compensation a year.

Newport Beach's 13-member fulltime lifeguard ... salaries, benefits and overtime pay ... in at least two instances top $200,000 (with $400 for sun protection) as the city struggles to rein in pension costs.

Those whose salaries are in question point out that they hold management roles, have decades of service and are considered public safety employees under the fire department, the same as fire captains and battalion chiefs. The fulltime guards train more than 200 seasonal lifeguards who make between $16 and $22 an hour, run a junior lifeguard program that brings in $1 million a year and oversee safety on nearly seven miles of sand.

Base salaries for Newport Beach lifeguards range from $58,000 for the lowest-paid officer to $108,492 for the top-paid battalion chief, according to a 2010 city report on lifeguard pay. Adding in overtime, special compensation, pension, medical benefits, life insurance and other pay, two battalion chiefs cleared more than $200,000 in 2010, while the lowest-paid officer made more than $98,000.

All lifeguards received $400 in sunscreen allowance and two cleared $28,000 apiece in overtime and night duty pay.

Newport Beach's lifeguards can also retire at 50 with 90% of their salary with 30 years of service, according to state data.

For more, see Lifeguards' High Pay Riles Calif. Beach City by The Associated Press, May 20, 2011 at NYTimes.com.