Also called: Park Superintendent
Leads a national or state park, protecting its land and wildlife while managing millions of visitors.
They manage rangers, scientists, and maintenance crews, make decisions about wildfires and closures, and work with local communities. It's a leadership role over places like Yellowstone or Yosemite.
Estimate based on federal GS-13 to SES pay.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 15 years after high school. Bachelor's or master's in natural resources or park management plus many years of park service experience.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Park and Recreation Management, Natural Resources, Environmental Science.
Growing slowly. Few positions; federal budgets vary.
Low risk for 10 years. AI helps with visitor data and wildfire models; leading staff, protecting land and public trust stay human.
Classes: AP Environmental Science, Government, Biology.
Official data: O*NET occupation 11-9199.
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.