What Is a Forest Ranger's Annual Salary?
Forest rangers manage land for a variety of purposes. They often must blend conservation efforts with recreational usage, as well as oversee the use of the timber. Foresters generally need a bachelor's degree and a certain level of physical fitness, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Because forestry work tends to be concentrated in certain regions, aspiring rangers might need to relocate. Most forest rangers earn at least $43,000 per year.
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Salary Range
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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides salary data for forest rangers in the category with all foresters, which includes urban foresters. The U.S. Forest Service also lists jobs for forest rangers under the title of forester. The average salary for foresters as of May 2009 was $26.55 per hour, or $55,220 per year, according to the bureau. The middle 50 percent of foresters were making $43,310 to $65,800 per year. The bottom 10 percent had salaries of $35,250 and below, and the top 10 percent $75,310 and higher.
Government Jobs
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Federal, state and local government agencies employ about 60 percent of foresters working in the United States, says the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bureau shows the average pay with state government at $50,560 per year in 2009, with local government paying $52,590, and the federal government paying $62,200 on average. Job listings for foresters posted by the U.S. Forest Service in 2011 have a very wide range of salaries, from $31,315 to $74,628 per year. The U.S. Forest Service website reports that most career employees with this agency started in temporary positions.
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Geography
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Montana has the largest number of foresters per capita, with 230 employed there in 2009. The average annual salary for forest rangers in that state was $52,690. Other states with large numbers of forest rangers per capita include Oregon, where the average salary was $59,790 per year, Alaska at $64,080, Idaho at $60,320, and Washington at $53,860. California is generally the highest-paying state for foresters, where these workers were earning $67,220 per year on average. Over 1,000 foresters were employed in that state in 2009.
Outlook
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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics sees average employment growth in forestry. A concern for preventing and managing wildfires is a main factor driving job growth, as is restoring natural resources damaged by fire. In addition, job openings will result from the retirements of large numbers of workers from state and federal government positions.
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