Also called: Chief Park Ranger, Chief of Visitor & Resource Protection
Leads the law enforcement, search and rescue, firefighting, and emergency medical rangers in a national park.
A chief ranger in a park like Yosemite manages dozens of rangers, plans for huge summer crowds, oversees rescues on cliffs and rivers, and coordinates with sheriffs and the FBI on serious crimes.
Federal pay. Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 14 years after high school. Bachelor's degree plus 10+ years as a law enforcement ranger.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Park & Recreation Management, Criminal Justice, Natural Resources.
Growing about average. Small number of positions.
Low risk for 10 years. Forecasts help plan crowds and staffing; leading rescues and rangers in a park stays human.
Classes: Biology, Leadership class, Health / first aid, Government.
Official data: O*NET occupation 33-1012.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.