Pay Scale for a Senior Naturalist

Naturalists work to preserve the environment for future generations.

"In the wilderness is the preservation of the world," noted Henry David Thoreau, poet and naturalist. Naturalists are "tree-huggers" who love nature and wildlife. These environmentalists are experts at natural history and plant and animal life. Naturalists are also known as natural scientists, naturalist teachers, nature guides and environmental educators. The salary of a senior naturalist varies according to education level, industry, location and experience, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
- Naturalists work to protect endangered species such as the bald eagle.
  
  Naturalists often hold degrees in zoology or wildlife biology.The average hourly salary of a zoologist and wildlife biologist was $29.64, and the average annual salary was $61,660, as of 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  
  A senior naturalist with a doctoral degree might be eligible for higher-paying positions performing research for colleges, universities and private industries, according to the bureau. A senior naturalist with an advanced degree earned an average hourly wage of $37.05 and an average annual wage of $77,050, as of 2010.
Biological Scientists
- Naturalists are committed to cleaning up the environment.
  
  Naturalists also develop and educate the public on ways to clean up the environment and may also work in the biofuel industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment opportunities for natural scientists are expected to increase by 21 percent through the 2008 to 2018 period, which is is almost twice as fast as most occupations, according to the bureau.
  
  The average hourly wage of a biological scientist was $34.28, and the average annual salary was $71,310, as of 2010, according to the bureau. Naturalists in the top 10 percent earned an average hourly wage of $49.18 and an average annual salary of $102,300. Those individuals working in the 10th to 75th percentile earned an average hourly wage between $18.64 and $40.11, and an average annual salary between $38,780 and $83,430.
Park Naturalists
- Naturalists teach people of all ages about the natural world.
  
  A naturalist may work for a park, nature center, wildlife refuge, museum or conservation organization in a variety of geographical regions, as well as provide tours and information about natural surroundings. Naturalists often spend the majority of their time teaching varying age groups about the natural world and why it's important to preserve it.
  
  The duties of a park naturalist might include developing and conducting natural science and history programs in county parks and handling public relations. A naturalist may also organize science education programs, which include hikes, audio-visual presentations, fishing workshops, habitat improvement workshops and scenic tours.
  
  The average hourly salary of a park naturalist ranged between $20.76 and $25.34, and the monthly salary ranged between $3,611 and $4,408, with an annual salary range between $43,332 and $52,896, as of 2009, according to Eduers.com.
Management, Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Naturalists with a bachelor's or master's degree typically earn less and are more likely to be qualified to work in nonscientific roles, such as sales representatives or market research analysts. Naturalists who worked in management, scientific and technical consulting service jobs earned an average of $27.88 hourly and an average annual salary of $54,864 in sales positions, and an average hourly wage of $26.70 and an average annual salary of $51,264 as research managers or analysts, as of 2010, according to the bureau. Jobs in the management, scientific and technical consulting service sector are anticipated to grow by a whopping 83 percent through the 2008 to 2018 period.