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Naturalist vs interpretive naturalist

The differences between naturalists and interpretive naturalists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a naturalist and an interpretive naturalist. Additionally, an interpretive naturalist has an average salary of $43,341, which is higher than the $42,363 average annual salary of a naturalist.

The top three skills for a naturalist include nature programs, cultural history and CPR. The most important skills for an interpretive naturalist are natural history, interpretive programs, and public speaking.

Naturalist vs interpretive naturalist overview

NaturalistInterpretive Naturalist
Yearly salary$42,363$43,341
Hourly rate$20.37$20.84
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs6,913122
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

Naturalist vs interpretive naturalist salary

Naturalists and interpretive naturalists have different pay scales, as shown below.

NaturalistInterpretive Naturalist
Average salary$42,363$43,341
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $73,000Between $24,000 And $77,000
Highest paying CityLas Vegas, NV-
Highest paying stateRhode Island-
Best paying companyPSEA-
Best paying industry--

Differences between naturalist and interpretive naturalist education

There are a few differences between a naturalist and an interpretive naturalist in terms of educational background:

NaturalistInterpretive Naturalist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Most common majorEnvironmental ScienceBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley

Naturalist vs interpretive naturalist demographics

Here are the differences between naturalists' and interpretive naturalists' demographics:

NaturalistInterpretive Naturalist
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 35.7% Female, 64.3%Male, 37.7% Female, 62.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 0.7% Unknown, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino, 2.4% Asian, 1.4% White, 91.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 0.8% Unknown, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino, 2.5% Asian, 1.4% White, 91.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between naturalist and interpretive naturalist duties and responsibilities

Naturalist example responsibilities.

  • Lead tour groups on both bicycles and kayaks, man small retail/rental outlet as only staff person.
  • Act as primary historian for all tour groups, ages k-12.
  • Assist with naturalist guide hikes, canoe tours and general outdoor learning activities.
  • Supervise canoe trips, nature walks, park cleanups, and volunteer groups.
  • Develop outdoor survival skills, including first aid and fire / shelter building.
  • Organize, implement and execute promotional meetings with various NYC public and charter schools.
  • Show more

Interpretive naturalist example responsibilities.

  • Lead tour groups on both bicycles and kayaks, man small retail/rental outlet as only staff person.
  • Perform GPS field mapping of Canada thistle, process GPS data, and used GIS for analysis and mapping.
  • Communicate and coordinate with DEP employees and volunteers.

Naturalist vs interpretive naturalist skills

Common naturalist skills
  • Nature Programs, 14%
  • Cultural History, 11%
  • CPR, 9%
  • Natural History, 7%
  • Outdoor Education, 4%
  • Public Speaking, 4%
Common interpretive naturalist skills
  • Natural History, 20%
  • Interpretive Programs, 18%
  • Public Speaking, 14%
  • Natural Resources, 8%
  • DNR, 8%
  • Environmental Education Programs, 5%

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