How Much Money Do Forest Rangers Get Paid?
Forest rangers are referred to as forestry and conservation scientists by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Forest rangers are responsible for managing and protecting forest, range lands and natural resources. Forest rangers spend a fair amount of time outdoors; however, they also spend time researching ways to protect the forests from disease, fire and pests. Forest rangers also must enforce environmental laws.
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Education
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Forest rangers must have at least a bachelor's degree; however, majors vary. Many forest rangers with bachelor's degrees majored in environmental science, forestry, biology or other natural sciences. Some new forest rangers receive orientation and training from the National Park Service; these training course often are given at the Stephen T. Mather Training Center in Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, or the Horace M. Albright Training Center in Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.
Low-End Salary
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Forest rangers often work for the federal government; however, many work for local governments and municipalities. The federal government has different grade levels; an entry level ranger would be at GS-4, with an annual salary of $18,687, according to the National Park Service. Rangers with graduate degrees are likely to enter at a GS-9 level, which has an average annual salary of $31,680.
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Median and High-End Salary
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According to the BLS, forest ranger's median annual wages were $53,750 in 2008. In 2008, foresters at the low and high end of the median made $42,980 to $65,000, respectively. Rangers in management positions and rangers with graduate degrees earned more than $78,350 annually. Forest rangers who work for the federal government, as opposed to local governments, averaged $71,558 in 2009.
Considerations
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According to PayScale, most forest rangers are men. Additionally, at least 77 percent have anywhere from one to four years of experience. Forest rangers work in private forests; however, many also work in national forests or parks. There's a heavy concentration of forest rangers in the southeast and western states, as many national parks and forests are located in these regions.
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References
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