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What does a forest ranger do?

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
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Forest ranger responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real forest ranger resumes:

  • Evaluate students on leadership, time management, organization and ability to accomplish missions.
  • Facilitate CFM processes around Sango-bay Eco-system aim at community participation in reduction of biodiversity losses.
  • Operate GPS unit marking tracts around fire unit.
  • Patrol assign areas for signs of fire, vandalism, trespass, safety hazards etc.
  • Cut and clear bushes, dig trenches to create fire linesusing axes, chainsaws or shovels.
  • Test and maintain tools, equipment, jump gear and parachutes to ensure readiness for fire suppression activities.
  • Work with respective DFO's in the management of forest reserves, prescription of silvicultural activities, matching species to site.
  • Examine injure persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.
  • Facilitate CFM processes around Sango-bay Eco-system aim at community participation in reduction of biodiversity losses.

Forest ranger skills and personality traits

We calculated that 57% of Forest Rangers are proficient in Patrol, Equipment Maintenance, and GPS. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Physical strength, and Good judgment.

We break down the percentage of Forest Rangers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Patrol, 57%

    Patrol the Flambeau River State Park* Interact with visitors, provide information* Enforce DNR and State Forest Regulations.

  • Equipment Maintenance, 9%

    Performed administrative duties and facility/equipment maintenance.

  • GPS, 9%

    Operated GPS unit marking tracts around fire unit.

  • Law Enforcement, 6%

    Assisted USDA Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers by recording license plate numbers, checking fishing licenses, and reporting vandalism.

  • Rangers, 4%

    Assisted Forest Rangers in the Catskills.

  • Bulldozers, 3%

    Provided routine maintenance on our straight trucks and bulldozers.Such as, checking oils and replacing all filters.

Most forest rangers use their skills in "patrol," "equipment maintenance," and "gps" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential forest ranger responsibilities here:

Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a forest ranger to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "firefighters must be able to explain conditions at an emergency scene to other firefighters and to emergency-response crews." Additionally, a forest ranger resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "use of respectful and polite communication helped to build and sustain mutually beneficial relationships with hunters.consultancies"

Physical strength. Many forest ranger duties rely on physical strength. "firefighters must be strong enough to carry heavy equipment and move debris at an emergency site," so a forest ranger will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways forest ranger responsibilities rely on physical strength: "included extensive physical labor working outdoors with dozers, pumps, and hand tools in often rugged, uneven terrain. "

Most common forest ranger skills

The three companies that hire the most forest rangers are:

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Compare different forest rangers

Forest ranger vs. Crew boss

If we compare the average forest ranger annual salary with that of a crew boss, we find that crew bosses typically earn a $5,145 lower salary than forest rangers make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both forest ranger and crew boss positions are skilled in cdl, equipment maintenance, and gps.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a forest ranger are more likely to require skills like "patrol," "law enforcement," "rangers," and "fire prevention programs." On the other hand, a job as a crew boss requires skills like "ran," "water pumps," "fire behavior," and "s-130." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

On average, crew bosses reach similar levels of education than forest rangers. Crew bosses are 1.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Forest ranger vs. Hot shot

A career as a hot shot brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a forest ranger. In fact, hot shots salary is $9,660 higher than the salary of forest rangers per year.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, forest ranger responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "patrol," "cdl," "equipment maintenance," and "gps." Meanwhile, a hot shot has duties that require skills in areas such as "customer inquiries," "cdl class," "pickup trucks," and "computer system." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Average education levels between the two professions vary. Hot shots tend to reach similar levels of education than forest rangers. In fact, they're 3.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Forest ranger vs. Fire crew specialist

On average, fire crew specialists earn higher salaries than forest rangers, with a $9,286 difference per year.Using the responsibilities included on forest rangers and fire crew specialists resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "equipment maintenance," "gps," and "firefighting.rdquo;

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from forest ranger resumes include skills like "patrol," "cdl," "law enforcement," and "rangers," whereas a fire crew specialist is more likely to list skills in "fire prevention," "fire suppression," "safety standards," and "fire protection. "

Fire crew specialists typically earn similar educational levels compared to forest rangers. Specifically, they're 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Forest ranger vs. Forest fire warden

Forest fire wardens typically earn higher pay than forest rangers. On average, forest fire wardens earn a $5,250 higher salary per year.Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A forest ranger uses "patrol," "cdl," "equipment maintenance," and "gps." Forest fire wardens are more likely to have duties that require skills in "fire weather," "fire prevention," "david," and "leaf blower. "forest fire wardens reach similar levels of education compared to forest rangers, in general. The difference is that they're 3.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of forest ranger

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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