Also called: Interpretive Ranger, Seasonal Ranger
Works a summer season in a national or state park, leading tours and helping visitors.
Seasonal rangers give campfire talks, lead hikes, answer a million questions at the visitor center, and warn people not to pet the bison. It's a classic college summer job and a door into park careers.
Seasonal hourly pay; housing sometimes provided.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. High school diploma or some college; many are students.
Ways in: On-the-job training, 4-year college. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Environmental Education, Biology, History, Park and Recreation Management.
Growing slowly.
Low risk for 10 years. Apps answer some visitor questions; live campfire talks and guided hikes stay human.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply on USAJOBS (national parks) or your state parks site in winter for summer interpretive ranger jobs First: Seasonal government hiring: apply in winter for summer, plus a short training
Classes: Biology, Public speaking, US history, Earth science.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-1031.
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.