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Park interpretive specialist vs park naturalist

The differences between park interpretive specialists and park 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 park interpretive specialist and a park naturalist. Additionally, a park interpretive specialist has an average salary of $43,411, which is higher than the $40,030 average annual salary of a park naturalist.

The top three skills for a park interpretive specialist include interpretive programs, cultural history and natural resources. The most important skills for a park naturalist are natural history, cultural history, and hand tools.

Park interpretive specialist vs park naturalist overview

Park Interpretive SpecialistPark Naturalist
Yearly salary$43,411$40,030
Hourly rate$20.87$19.25
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs1,286831
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

Park interpretive specialist vs park naturalist salary

Park interpretive specialists and park naturalists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Park Interpretive SpecialistPark Naturalist
Average salary$43,411$40,030
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $80,000Between $22,000 And $71,000
Highest paying CityDover, DE-
Highest paying stateDelaware-
Best paying companyStudent Conservation Association-
Best paying industryManufacturing-

Differences between park interpretive specialist and park naturalist education

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

Park Interpretive SpecialistPark Naturalist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorEnvironmental ScienceEnvironmental Science
Most common collegeUniversity of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley

Park interpretive specialist vs park naturalist demographics

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

Park Interpretive SpecialistPark Naturalist
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 45.8% Female, 54.2%Male, 45.4% Female, 54.6%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 0.7% Unknown, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino, 2.4% Asian, 1.4% White, 91.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between park interpretive specialist and park naturalist duties and responsibilities

Park interpretive specialist example responsibilities.

  • Present activities to teachers and lead portion of guide canoe trip.
  • Manage and staff park entrance station facilitating camping reservations and assisting day use visitors.
  • Participate in canoe, bike, train, and school group programs.
  • Process computerize campsite reservations, register overnight campers by computer or self-registration systems and prepare relate reports with ORMS system.
  • Provide animal husbandry and interpret wildlife, including alligators, snakes, opossums, turtles, birds, and fish.
  • Coordinate logistics relate to renting out kayaks, guiding and planning trips, answering phones, booking trips and repairing kayaks.
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Park naturalist example responsibilities.

  • Manage and staff park entrance station facilitating camping reservations and assisting day use visitors.
  • Construct new wildlife exhibits and care for existing exhibits that include live-native snakes and birds of prey.
  • Process computerize campsite reservations, register overnight campers by computer or self-registration systems and prepare relate reports with ORMS system.
  • Guide tours through the aquarium and rainforest pyramids.

Park interpretive specialist vs park naturalist skills

Common park interpretive specialist skills
  • Interpretive Programs, 18%
  • Cultural History, 18%
  • Natural Resources, 13%
  • Visitor Services, 12%
  • DCR, 10%
  • Public Speaking, 5%
Common park naturalist skills
  • Natural History, 21%
  • Cultural History, 14%
  • Hand Tools, 11%
  • Trail Maintenance, 9%
  • Nature Programs, 9%
  • Natural Resources, 5%

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