Forest Ranger Salaries
Forest rangers are responsible for overseeing and managing a wide variety of forests, range-lands and other wild or protected natural areas. These workers ensure the lands they monitor are properly controlled to conserve, protect and use natural resources. Forest rangers, also known as foresters, have wide ranging salaries based on different factors.
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National Averages
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There were about 10,230 forest rangers in 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rangers earned an average salary of $26.55 an hour or about $55,220 per year. Foresters in the top 10th percentile of earners made about $36.21 per hour or about $75,310 per year, while those in the lowest 10th percentile made an average of $16.94 an hour or about $35,250 per year.
Most Common Sectors
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the state government sector of the economy employed the highest number of forest rangers in 2009. The estimated 3,770 rangers in this sector earned an average wage of $24.31 an hour or about $50,560 per year. The estimated 1,690 rangers employed in the federal executive branch sector of the economy, the second-most common sector, earned an average salary of $29.91 an hour or about $62,200 per year.
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Highest Paying Sectors
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that forest rangers employed in the natural gas distribution sector of the economy had the highest average wages out of any sector in 2009. These rangers made an average of $39.07 an hour or about $81,270 per year. Rangers in the second-highest paying sector, the electric power generation, transmission and distribution sector, earned an average of $30.57 an hour or about $63,580 per year.
Geographic Differences
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The five states in which forest rangers had the highest average salaries in 2009 were California, New Jersey, Alaska, Connecticut and Illinois. Rangers in California had the highest average wages, earning about $32.32 an hour or $67,220 per year. Those in the fifth-highest paying state, Illinois, earned an average of $29.64 an hour or about $61,650 per year.
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References
- Photo Credit forests and mountains image by technoart1000@abv.bg from Fotolia.com
