U.S. National Parks
The first United States national park was signed into existence by President Ulysses S Grant in 1872. It would become one of America's favorite destinations; Yellowstone National Park. Today, the United States is home to approximately 423 national parks. In 1916, the United States Park Service made its debut.
Park rangers are integral to the United States National Park System and provide a variety of services to the public and in the interest of preserving and protecting America's wild places and historical, as well as cultural heritage. Park rangers not only protect and preserve large national parks such as the above mentioned Yellowstone National Park.
With such a vast national park system, park rangers number over a thousand. Park rangers are the public face of the national park system and are readily recognized by their uniforms and distinctive hats.
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What is a Park Ranger?
Park rangers work in law enforcement and at visitor's centers. In their role as law enforcement officers, they have the authority and power to levy fines and arrest individuals who violate the law on federal and state lands and to enforce laws that specifically pertain to national and state parks. Park rangers are also conservationists, dedicated to the preservation of wildlands and cultural heritage of the nation and in teaching the public about the importance of protecting these cultural treasures.
Park rangers can also be found at national battlefields, monuments, memorials, and historical sites. Park rangers protect and interpret sites for visitors and provide them with the history and context of the place they are visiting. For example, the American Civil War battlefield at Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, the Washington Monument, in Washington DC, and White Sands National Park in New Mexico are all locations where you can find a park ranger ready to provide information and assistance.
| Required Education | Bachelor's degree in forestry, biology, environmental sciences, or another relevant field |
| Projected Job Growth (2019-2029) | 5% for all conservation scientists and foresters* |
| Median Salary | $40,000 (2020)** |
Sources: * U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), **PayScale.com.
Park Ranger Job Description
The main responsibility in a park ranger's job description is protecting and supervising designated outdoor areas. Park rangers are law enforcement professionals and well as conservationists and park ranger duties include the following:
- Park rangers protect the public and wildlife
- Park rangers levy fines and making arrests of lawbreakers
- Park rangers participate in emergency rescues
- Park rangers have first responder duties which include treating injured members of the public for injuries or illness and arresting criminals
- Park rangers interpret cultural heritage sites for visitors
- Park rangers educate the public about the history of a national park
- Park rangers teach the public about the ecosystem they are visiting and about conservation
- Park rangers respond to wildlife emergencies including animals that are injured or have a negative interaction with the public
- Park rangers collect fees for special permits
- Park rangers assist recreation staff
Park Ranger Working Conditions
Park ranger working conditions vary and are linked to where a park ranger is stationed. Park rangers face working conditions that include unpredictable weather conditions, difficult terrain, dangerous and uncooperative people, and dangerous wildlife. Park rangers work mostly outdoors, sometimes having to overnight in remote locations. Much of the time, park rangers work alone and long hours. Risks include:
- Fires
- Violent storms
- Violent people
- Accidental falls and injuries
- Weather exposure
- Harm from wildlife
Park rangers also work at visitor centers where they interact with the public, giving them information about the park and interpret any artifacts or other items on display. Regardless of placement, park rangers must be fully prepared to deal with and adapt to changing working conditions.
Park Ranger Personal Competencies
To be successful in a career as a park ranger, it is essential to possess the following characteristics and skills. The job of a park ranger involves working with the public and encountering challenging situations.
- Park rangers need to be physically fit
- Park rangers need to have strong critical thinking skills
- Park rangers must have crisis management skills
- Park rangers need strong interpersonal and written communication skills and be able to communicate clearly
- Park rangers must have the ability to maintain a calm, neutral demeanor
- Park rangers need to be adaptable and have flexibility
- Park rangers need to be in possession of good judgment and have strong decision-making skills
Park Ranger Education and Requirements
Park rangers are expected to have a four-year degree and a master's degree is desirable. There are a number of fields that a prospective park ranger can choose to major in; The following is a sampling:
Park Ranger Education
There are a number of degrees that are complementary and supportive of a career as a park ranger. Here are just a few examples:
- Environmental Management
- Forestry
- Recreation and Tourism Management
- Ecology
- Wildlife biology
- Natural Resource Management and Conservation
Park Ranger: Additional Requirements
- Many park rangers must also successfully complete a training academy, similar to that of law enforcement
- Park rangers just pass a background check
- Park rangers must pass a medical exam
- Park rangers must submit to drug testing
- Park rangers must complete successful on-the-job training
- Park rangers must learn CPR/First Aid Training; this can also be done through an academy, some of which offer 40-hour CPR/First Aid classes targeting first responders, or it may be arranged by the place they are assigned to.
There are also professional organizations that park rangers can join to enhance their skills and training and to network with others in the field. These park ranger organizations include the Association of National Park Rangers (NAPR) and the Park Law Enforcement Association (PLEA).
Park Ranger Salary
Park ranger salaries depend on where they are stationed. According to Payscale from the year 2020, park rangers earn, at the lower 10% end of the spectrum, around $27,000, while the upper 10% can earn as high as $63,000. The median income for a park ranger is approximately $40.000. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that between 2019 to 2029, the park ranger field will grow by about 5%.
