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Ski Patrol Salary

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3ski6guy0
Posts: 9201 - Karma: 132
Does anyone know what a ski patroller makes and how to go about becoming one?
Jan 9 2008 11:03PM
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Travapple.
Posts: 6787 - Karma: 88
zero.
Jan 9 2008 11:07PM
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3ski6guy0
Posts: 9201 - Karma: 132
i know they make some money
Jan 9 2008 11:13PM
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InfernoHits
Posts: 4755 - Karma: 192
depends. Some dude out west with like avalanche training and like expert at it make a good deal I assume. Go to a mountain over the summer and apply for the upcoming winter. Its a lot of work though, like getting to the mountain at 6am to set up gates and close trails and open trails and everything
Jan 9 2008 11:14PM
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KRAMPUSNTROLLZ
Posts: 2715 - Karma: 355
oh ski patrolling is kinda uh yah know but whatever floats your boat i guess it is a way to ski and make some money
Jan 9 2008 11:15PM
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3ski6guy0
Posts: 9201 - Karma: 132
well it would be cool to be in it long enough where you can start blowing shit up. avy blasting would be the shit
Jan 9 2008 11:18PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
most ski patrol make nothing but every mountain has a few on a salary
Jan 9 2008 11:21PM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
At Moonlight last year:

First year patrol started at $9/hr and wasn't allowed to work on Headwaters.

Head of patrol was making ~$40,000 (supposedly)

It's not a lucrative job, and is definitely shitty at times.  You don't patrol to make money, you patrol because you love being out in the snow and helping people.
Jan 9 2008 11:24PM
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Pippin
Posts: 4846 - Karma: 661
couldn't have said it any better...
Jan 9 2008 11:29PM
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thelazyboy
Posts: 498 - Karma: 35
here in quebec , ski patrolers are only paid if it is their week job. they dont get paid if they work on weekends but they get to ski for free. dunno if its different elsewhere
Jan 9 2008 11:30PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
here in MN my hill is a volunteer ski patrol...                      im pretty sure that if you want to be a Certified ski patrol for a "real" mtn (alta, vail)    you need some pretty extensive EMT type training/qualifications, along with avalanche and real skiing ability.... 

but as said above, being a ski patroler isnt something you do for the money and great retirement plan  
its about the skiing and helping people.
Jan 9 2008 11:37PM
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JeffersonDavis
Posts: 1167 - Karma: 14
i would like to think the heads of ski patrol at major mountains are making at least 6 figures
Jan 9 2008 11:41PM
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tjski
Posts: 5859 - Karma: 44
most are volunteer i believe...
Jan 9 2008 11:42PM
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tjski
Posts: 5859 - Karma: 44
wow, i need to get in the ambulance business...
Jan 9 2008 11:51PM
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3ski6guy0
Posts: 9201 - Karma: 132
emts dont make that much money either. and i know obviously you arent gonna get rich doing it but i was wondering if they actually make enough to live on
Jan 10 2008 1:04AM
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snowbladesforlife
Posts: 2033 - Karma: -3
Most mountains start at under $10 an hour and, at least at Breck, aren't salaried for around 5 years.  So that means no benefits.  If you want private health insurance now that can be 300-400.  So you are pretty much going to around the poverty line, raising a family, at least for the first 10 years would be out of the question.
Jan 10 2008 1:32AM
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jayhood
Posts: 144 - Karma: 11
EMT dont make as much as a Medic, the Medic is the one who administors drugs to you in the ambulance they can make 20+ an hour here in AZ Im sure its less in more rural areas but Medics make the money, EMT are essentially their assistants.
Jan 10 2008 1:53AM
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SnowRidgeParks
Posts: 2146 - Karma: 88
volunteer out here in NY... not for the $$ but for the love of the sport, and my buddy says they are pretty dope out montana way.
Jan 10 2008 2:37AM
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iggyskier
Posts: 10447 - Karma: 10,018
Mostly right, except for saying EMTs essentially function as an assistant. 

EMT have much more basic training and they make like 30K a year.  Their training is usually between 100-160 hours.

Paramedics have a ton more training, closing to 1200 hours, and as you said are qualified to use drugs.  They don't make too much more money a year, closer to 40-45k depending where they are.

Just saying you hypothetically work 2000 hours a year, a EMT would be about $15/hour and a paramedic would make $20-23/hour.

But a lot of places run EMTs & paramedics at the same time.  They both respond and do the same (generally) job.  One is just able to respond in a much completer fashion than the other.  I guess I just wouldn't say EMTs function primarily as an assistant to an paramedic.  Lots of times there are no paramedics around, just the EMTs.  Depends where you are/how busy the area is, though.

Just to add, I guess, I think all firefighters must have completed their EMT-basic and the ambulance crews that work for the fire department are all paramedics.  I think something like 90% of fire department calls of medical emergencies.
Jan 10 2008 5:39AM
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iggyskier
Posts: 10447 - Karma: 10,018
O. And back on topic...

ski patrollers do not make very good money at all.  Most of the numbers I have heard have been between $9-15/hour.  And they only work in the winter months....so say 40 hours a week from November to April....

so 7 months, 28 weeks, 1120 hours, at say $12/hour....$13440.  Ugh.  Not a lot at all.
Jan 10 2008 5:42AM
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+public_ennemy+
Posts: 267 - Karma: 46

10.50 at my home mountain and they're paid only during the week, in the weekeed its on a volounteers base and are not paid, thats shitty for someone who took almost 500 hours of formation

Jan 10 2008 6:53AM
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quixotic
Posts: 6937 - Karma: 2,978
All volunteer at my hill... aka 0.
Jan 10 2008 7:25AM
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dan.b
Posts: 866 - Karma: 10
dont know if anyone can confirm this but I heard they can ski for free pretty much anywhere? but yeah, thats not a salary...
Jan 10 2008 7:50AM
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[JP-of-SC]
Posts: 345 - Karma: 10
not quite, they ski free at their home mountain and get sick discounts for skiing at other mountains.
Jan 10 2008 8:42AM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
Useful info..thanks

I won't become a ski patroller.
Jan 10 2008 8:49AM
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no_steeze_in_NY
Posts: 225 - Karma: 13
a few ski patrol a hired at the larger mountains, and recieve a modest salary, but theyre the best, and its hard to become a paid patroller. the rest are just volunteers who get nothing but perks and free lift tickets.
Jan 10 2008 10:03AM
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396222687862
Posts: 0 - Karma: 350
i make jack shit for teaching
Jan 10 2008 1:59PM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14489 - Karma: 10,640
free seasons pass and discount for rentals / food
Jan 10 2008 3:08PM
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davar6
Posts: 555 - Karma: 24
ha yea me too so i quit. i wouldnt wanna be ski patrol though cus then youd have to be the ass who takes kids passes and shit
Jan 10 2008 3:13PM
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EL_FINRE
Posts: 2486 - Karma: 52

at the hill i grew up at it was on a volunteer basis but here out west i think there is some sort of salary

Jan 10 2008 3:21PM
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Valind
Posts: 4358 - Karma: 17
Some here in Colorado even if you are EMT that does not mean you will get the job.  They wont hire you just with an EMT cert.  You have to have an OEC cert (Emergency Outdoor Care)  Dont have to have Avi training though.  They teach you that through the Patrol here.
Jan 10 2008 3:28PM
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steeze540
Posts: 96 - Karma: 12
At my hill I think they get like $10/hour
Jan 10 2008 5:14PM
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panojibber
Posts: 3382 - Karma: 216

Fuck ski patrol, coach a park and pipe team or something.

Jan 10 2008 5:25PM
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