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Park ranger salary
Average park ranger salary
$40,801
Average Park Ranger Salary
The average annual salary for park rangers is $40,801, equating to approximately $20 per hour. Salaries can vary widely based on several factors including geographical location, years of experience, and specific roles within the field. In states like California and Alaska, park rangers often earn more due to higher living costs and demand for skilled professionals.
Salary Variations by State
Some of the highest-paying states for park rangers include:
- California
- Alaska
- Washington
- New York
- Oregon
Understanding salary differences can guide potential job seekers in making informed decisions about their career paths. Additionally, roles in management or specialized areas may offer higher compensation. For those passionate about conservation and outdoor work, a career as a park ranger not only provides a fulfilling experience but also competitive salary potential.
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Where can a Park Ranger earn more?
Park ranger salary estimates from across the web
Average park ranger salary by state
The average park ranger salary in Delaware, Rhode Island, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average park ranger salary states are Iowa, Wyoming, and Louisiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for park rangers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $52,537 | $25.26 |
| 2 | Delaware | $61,648 | $29.64 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $42,096 | $20.24 |
| 4 | Nevada | $46,811 | $22.51 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $60,883 | $29.27 |
| 6 | Indiana | $41,782 | $20.09 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $43,684 | $21.00 |
| 8 | Ohio | $42,343 | $20.36 |
| 9 | New York | $54,697 | $26.30 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $41,707 | $20.05 |
| 11 | California | $52,194 | $25.09 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $58,684 | $28.21 |
| 13 | Michigan | $41,036 | $19.73 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $41,539 | $19.97 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $37,425 | $17.99 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $46,985 | $22.59 |
| 17 | Maine | $36,102 | $17.36 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $45,749 | $21.99 |
| 19 | Virginia | $39,981 | $19.22 |
| 20 | Maryland | $43,132 | $20.74 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $41,496 | $19.95 |
| 22 | Arizona | $39,964 | $19.21 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $38,158 | $18.35 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $42,489 | $20.43 |
| 25 | Washington | $37,193 | $17.88 |
| 26 | Vermont | $40,908 | $19.67 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $33,407 | $16.06 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $33,585 | $16.15 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $35,494 | $17.06 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $33,498 | $16.10 |
| 31 | Texas | $36,523 | $17.56 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $32,960 | $15.85 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $35,306 | $16.97 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $33,300 | $16.01 |
| 35 | Utah | $33,590 | $16.15 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $36,629 | $17.61 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $31,933 | $15.35 |
| 38 | Colorado | $31,695 | $15.24 |
| 39 | Florida | $32,599 | $15.67 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $30,075 | $14.46 |
| 41 | Georgia | $32,589 | $15.67 |
| 42 | Idaho | $33,899 | $16.30 |
| 43 | Missouri | $33,402 | $16.06 |
| 44 | Oregon | $34,451 | $16.56 |
| 45 | Montana | $30,640 | $14.73 |
| 46 | Illinois | $32,299 | $15.53 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $29,384 | $14.13 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $28,714 | $13.80 |
| 49 | Iowa | $30,491 | $14.66 |
| 50 | Alabama | $29,032 | $13.96 |
| 51 | Kansas | $27,339 | $13.14 |
Highest paying cities for park rangers
The highest-paying cities for park rangers are New York, NY, Los Angeles, CA, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $55,051 | $26.47 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $53,206 | $25.58 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $43,535 | $20.93 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $43,446 | $20.89 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $41,316 | $19.86 |
| 6 | Glendale, AZ | $39,884 | $19.18 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $38,277 | $18.40 |
| 8 | Farmington, NM | $38,058 | $18.30 |
| 9 | Olympia, WA | $37,002 | $17.79 |
| 10 | Apple Valley, MN | $36,445 | $17.52 |
| 11 | Florissant, MO | $34,271 | $16.48 |
| 12 | Little Rock, AR | $33,652 | $16.18 |
| 13 | Salt Lake City, UT | $33,430 | $16.07 |
| 14 | Sarasota, FL | $33,195 | $15.96 |
| 15 | Milton, GA | $32,713 | $15.73 |
| 16 | Pueblo, CO | $32,047 | $15.41 |
Park ranger salary details
A park ranger's salary ranges from $22,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $72,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a park ranger's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
| 75th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| Average | $40,801 | $3,400 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $22,000 | $1,833 | $11 |
Highest paying park ranger jobs
The highest paying types of park rangers are park interpretive specialist, interpretive naturalist, and park manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naturalist | $42,363 | $3,530 | $20.37 | 6,913 |
| Ranger | $32,117 | $2,676 | $15.44 | 748 |
| Park Manager | $42,985 | $3,582 | $20.67 | 3,090 |
Top companies hiring park rangers now:
Which companies pay park rangers the most?
Park ranger salaries at National Park Foundation and Jefferson County Sheriffs Dept are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average park ranger salary at companies like Forest and Bureau of Land Management are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Park Foundation | $58,732 | $28.24 |
| 2 | Jefferson County Sheriffs Dept | $56,813 | $27.31 |
| 3 | Forest Manufacturing Co | $55,226 | $26.55 |
| 4 | Bureau of Land Management | $53,277 | $25.61 |
| 5 | Washington State University | $50,536 | $24.30 |
| 6 | Marin Water | $50,524 | $24.29 |
| 7 | City of Oak Park | $49,906 | $23.99 |
| 8 | City of Los Angeles | $48,015 | $23.08 |
| 9 | City of Baltimore | $47,852 | $23.01 |
| 10 | City of Round Rock | $46,938 | $22.57 |
| 11 | New York State Restaurant Association | $46,303 | $22.26 |
| 12 | City of Jacksonville | $46,252 | $22.24 |
| 13 | City of Springfield | $44,596 | $21.44 |
| 14 | City of Peoria | $43,494 | $20.91 |
| 15 | City of Austin | $42,846 | $20.60 |
| 16 | City Of Rancho Mirage | $42,461 | $20.41 |
| 17 | United States Army Corps of Engineers | $42,296 | $20.33 |
| 18 | Town of Davie, FL | $41,505 | $19.95 |
| 19 | Colorado State Express | $40,256 | $19.35 |
| 20 | Dakota Holding Corporation | $40,256 | $19.35 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Park ranger salary trends
The average park ranger salary has risen by $2,861 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average park ranger earned $37,940 annually, but today, they earn $40,801 a year. That works out to a 4% change in pay for park rangers over the last decade.
Compare park ranger salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average park ranger salary over time
Compare park ranger salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Park ranger salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $40,800 | $19.62 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $39,900 | $19.20 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | $39,100 | $18.79 | -0.3% |
| 2022 | $39,200 | $18.84 | -0.5% |
| 2021 | $39,400 | $18.94 | +1.1% |
Recently added park ranger salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity Lifestyle Properties | Front Desk Park Ranger | Whitney, TX | 06/30/2025 | $21,914 |
| City of San Clemente | Park Ranger I/II | San Clemente, CA | 06/28/2025 | $38,985 |
| Brevard County, Fl | Park Ranger I | Brevard, NC | 06/28/2025 | $34,477 |
| Cabarrus County, Nc | Park Ranger (Year Round) | Concord, NC | 06/27/2025 | $35,187 |
| State of Kentucky | State Park Ranger I | Campbellsville, KY | 06/27/2025 | $45,752 |
| Washington D.C | Pathways To Public Service Program-Park Ranger-Department of Parks and Recreation | Washington, DC | 06/26/2025 | $74,893 |
| State of Virginia | Park Ranger-Public Safety & Law Enforcement-Smith Mountain Lake State Park | Bedford, VA | 06/26/2025 | $42,000 |
| Department of The Interior | Park Ranger | Grants Pass, OR | 06/26/2025 | $44,959 |
| Department of The Interior | Seasonal Park Ranger (Interpretation) | Washington, DC | 06/26/2025 | $53,208 |
| Department of The Interior | Park Ranger | National City, CA | 06/26/2025 | $74,311 |
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