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The differences between naturalists and park interpretive specialists 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 a park interpretive specialist. Additionally, a park interpretive specialist has an average salary of $43,411, 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 a park interpretive specialist are interpretive programs, cultural history, and natural resources.
| Naturalist | Park Interpretive Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $42,363 | $43,411 |
| Hourly rate | $20.37 | $20.87 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 6,913 | 1,286 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Naturalists are people who educate the public on environmental-related matters. The core responsibilities of this position are preserving, restoring, maintaining, and protecting natural habitat. Other duties performed by a naturalist are; guide work, conducting field studies of local and natural habitats, educating and providing the general public with recreational activities, assisting with administrative tasks that relate to parking admission, and leading and offering guidance during trips and nature walks for both adults and children.
A park interpretive specialist's role involves the interpretation and preparation of information for park exhibitions and tours. This role is responsible for conducting educational tours to explain the interrelationship between animals and plants in the park, environmental conservation education efforts, and acting as a guide on trails. Park interpretive specialists also prepare photos and videos for visitor education, pick out artifacts and specimens for exhibits, and liaise with other staff on schedules and themes for programs.
Naturalists and park interpretive specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Naturalist | Park Interpretive Specialist | |
| Average salary | $42,363 | $43,411 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $73,000 | Between $23,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | Las Vegas, NV | Dover, DE |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Delaware |
| Best paying company | PSEA | Student Conservation Association |
| Best paying industry | - | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a naturalist and a park interpretive specialist in terms of educational background:
| Naturalist | Park Interpretive Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Environmental Science | Environmental Science |
| Most common college | University of California, Berkeley | University of California, Berkeley |
Here are the differences between naturalists' and park interpretive specialists' demographics:
| Naturalist | Park Interpretive Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.7% Female, 64.3% | Male, 45.8% Female, 54.2% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 3.0% Hispanic or Latino, 2.5% Asian, 1.4% White, 91.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |