1

Safety Instructor Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Water Safety Instructor/Lifeguards

Grand Rapids, MI · On-site

$13.25 - $17/hr

Water Safety Instructor/Lifeguards Community Aquatic Center Major Job Responsibilities: * Responsible for the safety and welfare of all customers. * Assist the Aquatic Coordinator in all areas of ...

Teaching swimming techniques, swimming strokes, and water safety rules to students with varying ... Proven experience working as a swim instructor or lifeguard. * CPR, First Aid, and American Red ...

Teaching swimming techniques, swimming strokes, and water safety rules to students with varying ... Proven experience working as a swim instructor or lifeguard. * CPR, First Aid, and American Red ...

Demonstrate complete knowledge of emergency and safety procedures and confidence communicating with ... Instructor certification is preferred. • USA Swim Coaching level 1 preferred. • Must possess ...

Water Safety Instructor certification is preferred. * USA Swim Coaching level 1 preferred. * Must ... possess excellent inter-personal and communication skills, and the ability to work with members in ...

Lifeguard | Summer Seasonal

Grand Rapids, MI · On-site

$13.25 - $17/hr

With valid Water Safety Instructor certification, teach swim lessons according to the expectations of Water Safety Instructor. * Attend and participate in regular Service Game training sessions as ...

Swim Instructor

Adrian, MI · On-site

$13.73/hr

This role focuses on developing stroke competency, water confidence, and safety awareness while fostering positive relationships with students and families. Swim Instructors must maintain constant ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Safety Instructor information

See Michigan salary details

$10

$24

$49

How much do safety instructor jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for safety instructor in Michigan is $24.71, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.60 and $27.64 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Does a Safety Instructor Do?

As a safety instructor, you teach people how to comply with OSHA workplace standards. As part of your responsibilities and duties, you may review potential threats in a given area, help create countermeasures to minimize potential risks, and assess the training needs of employees. You often attend meetings, must keep up with changing safety laws, evaluate employee compliance, and otherwise help make each work area as safe as possible. Many details of this job vary based on the work environment. For example, medical laboratories often have very different safety needs than construction sites, so it’s essential to adapt your techniques with each employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Safety Instructor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Safety Instructor, you need thorough knowledge of safety regulations, risk assessment, and instructional design, often supported by certifications such as OSHA or First Aid/CPR instructor credentials. Familiarity with learning management systems (LMS), presentation software, and safety equipment is commonly required. Strong communication, public speaking, and the ability to engage diverse learners are vital soft skills that distinguish effective instructors. These skills and qualifications ensure safety instructors can deliver impactful training, promote compliance, and create safer work environments.

What is the difference between Safety Instructor vs Lifeguard?

AspectSafety InstructorLifeguard
Required CertificationsCPR, First Aid, Safety Instructor CertificationCPR, First Aid, Lifeguard Certification
Work EnvironmentSchools, training centers, corporate safety programsPools, beaches, water parks
Employer & Industry UsageEducational institutions, safety training providersPublic pools, beaches, aquatic facilities

Safety Instructors and Lifeguards both require CPR and First Aid certifications, but Safety Instructors focus on teaching safety protocols in various settings, while Lifeguards primarily monitor water areas to prevent and respond to emergencies. Their work environments and employer types overlap somewhat, but their roles differ in scope and focus.

What are some common challenges Safety Instructors face when training diverse groups, and how can they effectively address them?

Safety Instructors often work with trainees from various backgrounds, experience levels, and learning styles, which can make it challenging to ensure everyone understands and retains critical safety information. To address this, instructors should use a mix of teaching methods—such as demonstrations, hands-on activities, and visual aids—to cater to different learning preferences. Creating an inclusive environment, encouraging questions, and checking for understanding through practical assessments help ensure all participants are engaged and competent. Regularly updating training materials to reflect current regulations and industry best practices is also essential.

What are Safety Instructors?

Safety Instructors are professionals who educate individuals or groups on safety protocols, procedures, and regulations in various environments such as workplaces, schools, or industrial settings. They design and deliver training sessions on topics like emergency response, equipment use, and hazard prevention. Safety Instructors ensure that trainees understand and can apply safety standards to minimize risks and prevent accidents. Their role is crucial in fostering a culture of safety and compliance within organizations.
What job categories do people searching Safety Instructor jobs in Michigan look for? The top searched job categories for Safety Instructor jobs in Michigan are:
What cities in Michigan are hiring for Safety Instructor jobs? Cities in Michigan with the most Safety Instructor job openings:
Infographic showing various Safety Instructor job openings in Michigan as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 40% Full Time, 56% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $51,389 per year, or $24.7 per hour.

Water Safety Instructor/Lifeguards

Forest Hills Public School District

Grand Rapids, MI • On-site

$13.25 - $17/hr

Other

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Water Safety Instructor/Lifeguards
Community Aquatic Center
MAJOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
  1. Responsible for the safety and welfare of all customers.
  2. Assist the Aquatic Coordinator in all areas of responsibility related to water safety and instruction.
  3. Lifeguarding responsibilities where applicable.
  4. Directly responsible to the Aquatic Coordinator, or the Senior Guard in the AC's absence.
FUNCTIONS PERFORMED IN FULFILLING MAJOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Teach any and all classes assigned in accordance with the American Red Cross rules and regulations.
  • Keep accurate records pertaining to classes.
  • Direct classes in a courteous and professional manner.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and use of site emergency procedures and your role in them.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of emergency equipment locations.
  • Solely responsible for student class participants.
  • Enforce all rules and prohibit unsafe activities.
  • Report for duty on time. Be prepared and ready to start on time.
  • Be aware that you can be held liable for your actions or lack of actions.
  • General clean-up duties.
  • Other duties as assigned by Aquatic Coordinator and/or Senior Guard.
JOB QUALIFICATIONS:
  1. Must possess a current Water Safety Instructor (WSI) or comparable certification.
  2. Must possess a current American Red Cross Lifeguard Training certification.
  3. Previous WSI teaching experience and/or swimming background preferred.
  4. Willing to work with people of all ages.
  5. Good organizational skills.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:
  • Hourly
  • Varied hours
  • Available Saturday mornings during the school year and weekday mornings during the summer

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceeds that required for ordinary locomotion.
Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount and kind of balancing the amount and kind of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.
Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
Standing: Remaining upright on the feet particularly for sustained periods of time.
Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of the upper extremities and back muscles.
Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling.
Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken work; those activities where detailed or import spoken instructions must be conveyed to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and having the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and making fine discriminations in sound.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
The Forest Hills Public School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, or sexual orientation), marital status, disability, genetic information, or any other legally prohibited basis in its employment decisions or the provision of services.