How much does a ski patrolman make?

October 26, 2009 by admin · 3 Comments
Filed under: Snow Skiing 
ski
Michael asked:


I am just wondering how much I can make if i join the ski patrol. Also is the salary for the entire year, or is it just for the ski season?

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Comments

3 Responses to “How much does a ski patrolman make?”
  1. Crikey a Wild Ski Bum says:
    October 28, 2009 at 2:41 am

    $0 Crikey a Wild Ski Bum

  2. Christian L says:
    October 29, 2009 at 7:59 am

    Patrollers don’t make squat.

    Small mountains give them a free pass in exchange for 3-4 days of work per month.

    Resort mountains pay a basic patroller about $9 an hour, but after a few years and additional training they might be making $15 an hour.

    It is a great place to get trauma experience while you ski for free all day, so it doesn’t pay well at all. Not until all of that experience helps you graduate from med school. Christian L

  3. Willie D says:
    October 30, 2009 at 2:57 pm

    The vast majority of us do it for free. We get a free season pass out of the deal and then usually get sick deals at other mountains.

    We have one professional a shift that gets paid $10/hour at our small resort.

    Pay for professionals at larger resorts varies greatly depending on skills and experience. A friend who worked at Stratton made $15/hour because she is a Paramedic and had 3 years prior experience. Another guy I know made $10 his first season as a pro, but then jumped to $12 his next year. His medical training is simply just what the National Ski Patrol offers. Regardless, it’s not much.

    The only year-round salaried patrollers I know of in the US work for the Forest Service. These are the guys who patrol backcountry areas. These guys and gals are Forest Rangers first and ski patrollers second. They do Forest Ranger things when not monitoring snow pack and rescuing dumb-assed people, even in the winter. In the summer they could be doing anything from backcountry rescue to monitoring Pine Tree harvesting.

    Additionally: You just don’t apply for a job as a paid patroller. You need to have your certs ahead of time. Most places won’t hire you without you having a valid WFR, OEC or EMT certification and well as a current CPR cert. In most cases they will make you take the challenge test if you have current medical certs, otherwise, you have to take the classes on your own time and your own dime.

    Most places who do pay patrollers usually want people who are either Senior or Certified Patrollers.

    If you want to volunteer for a year or so, most places will be happy to have you. Many people start as a volunteer and gain experience before going pro. Good Luck! Willie D

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