How hard is it to become a park ranger?

It can be extremely hard to become a park ranger. This is due to the highly competitive nature of the position. Each year, there are far more candidates looking for positions than positions available. This leads to an extremely competitive atmosphere which can be difficult to work through.

How to become a park ranger without a degree

You cannot become a park ranger without a degree. You need at least two years of post-secondary education to be a park ranger. Many states, as well as the National Park Service, require applicants to possess some form of post-secondary education, particularly if they have no experience.

How to get a job in a national park

You get a job in a national park by researching the different job possibilities and obtaining the required education. The National Park Service requires a bachelor's degree or higher without suitable experience to substitute.

What degree do you need to be a park ranger?

You need at least 2 years of post-secondary education to be a park ranger. Many states, as well as the National Park Service, require applicants to possess some form of post-secondary education, particularly if they have no experience. For some states, this may mean an associate's degree from an accredited college or university.

How To Become A Park Ranger: What It Is and Career Path

What is a park ranger and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Dr. Elizabeth Perry Ph.D.

Park rangers are integral to the United States National Park System and provide a variety of services to the public. They also work in the interest of preserving and protecting America's wild places and historical, as well as cultural heritage. Park rangers not only protect but also preserve large national parks such as the Yellowstone National Park.

Park rangers perform tasks that include assisting park administration by collecting and accounting for revenue and creating reports. Moreover, responding to and writing incident reports for visitor complaints and emergencies.

They also perform some law enforcement activities to enforce rules, regulations, and policies for visitor and resource protection. And, they instruct, supervise, and conduct routine maintenance on grounds and equipment and daily visitor services. Although a high school diploma or a GED may suffice, a bachelor's degree in forestry, biology, environmental sciences, or relevant field may be given preference.

The average hourly salary for this position is $15.92, which amounts to over $40,000 per annum. Not only that, but the career is projected to grow in the coming years to come and create more opportunities across the United States.

What general advice would you give to a Park Ranger?

Dr. Elizabeth Perry Ph.D.

Assistant Professor in Protected Areas and Natural Resources Recreation Management, Michigan State University

There are a few jobs in very desirable locations (think all the well-known beautiful parks and the agencies that manage them) that receive an outsized number of applications. Yet, others that are lesser known (but just as amazing!) receive much fewer. If you have the ability to be mobile, or even looking around where you currently live, consider applying at some of these lesser-known locations and agencies. This includes also looking toward non-profit organizations and commercial businesses that are related to parks, recreation, and stewardship. You may have incredible experiences for skill development and salary advancement.

ScorePark RangerUS Average

Salary

3.2

Avg. Salary $40,801

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

7.6

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.09%

Asian 1.39%

Black or African American 0.54%

Hispanic or Latino 2.18%

Unknown 2.91%

White 91.90%

Gender

female 33.81%

male 66.19%

Age - 41

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41

Stress Level

7.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.2

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

7.2

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a park ranger

Explore park ranger education requirements

Most common park ranger degrees

Bachelor's

62.3 %

Associate

17.5 %

High School Diploma

10.5 %

Start to develop specific park ranger skills

Skills	Percentages
Patrol	20.03%
Customer Service	7.36%
CPR	5.41%
Public Safety	5.37%
Interpretive Programs	5.07%

Complete relevant park ranger training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New park rangers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a park ranger based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real park ranger resumes.

Research park ranger duties and responsibilities

Lead ranger-guided canoe, kayak, and bike tours as well as nature walks and hikes.
Manage rental property for RV property which include maintaining logs for permanent tenants and for visiting tenants.
Manage emergency calls, medical incidents, and SAR operations, including coordinating responses with local agencies and other park departments.
Manage and staff park entrance station facilitating camping reservations and assisting day use visitors.

Prepare your park ranger resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your park ranger resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a park ranger resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Park Ranger Resume templates

Build a professional Park Ranger resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Park Ranger resume.

Apply for park ranger jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a park ranger job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams