Park Naturalists earn a median of $73,010 per year ($35.10/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 5.3% through 2035, with about 2,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 19-1031
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Park Naturalist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $73,010a year, or $35.10/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $48KTop 10% $110K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.3%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2,10027,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202527.7K
- Projected 203529.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 27.7K Projected 2035 29.2K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Environmental Education Specialist, Environmental Educator, Interpretive Naturalist, Interpretive Park Ranger, Natural Resource Educator, Naturalist.
Pay
How much do Park Naturalists make?
Every park naturalist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$73,010
Middle half earn $57,700 to $91,560
- 10th
- $47,550
- 25th
- $57,700
- 75th
- $91,560
- 90th
- $110,410
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $47,550 |
| 25th | $57,700 |
| Median | $73,010 |
| 75th | $91,560 |
| 90th | $110,410 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $73,010
- Median hourly wage
- $35.10/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $77,130
- People employed
- 25,950
Versus all US occupations
At $73,010, Park Naturalists earn 43% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $22,030 a year.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
Inside the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220, this is 11% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $110,410 or more while the bottom 10% earn $47,550, a gap of 2.3×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 47% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
District of Columbia posts the highest raw median ($99,400), but once local prices are taken into account Louisiana leads at $90,911 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Park Naturalists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $99,400 | $90,445 | 110 |
| 2Colorado | $84,820 | $82,308 | 1,230 |
| 3Maryland | $83,290 | $79,355 | 470 |
| 4Idaho | $81,330 | $85,168 | 300 |
| 5Wyoming | $81,310 | $87,722 | 150 |
| 6Oregon | $80,790 | $78,163 | 1,020 |
| 7Louisiana | $80,190 | $90,911 | 190 |
| 8California | $79,810 | $72,083 | 2,110 |
| 9Wisconsin | $79,540 | $84,532 | 970 |
| 10Alaska | $79,260 | $77,433 | 290 |
Job outlook
Is Park Naturalist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Park Naturalists | +5.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Park Naturalists to change 5.3% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 1,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 2,100 openings are projected each year, 7.6% of the 27,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of conservation scientists and foresters is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of conservation scientists and foresters varies by occupation (see table).
Heightened public interest in issues involving the environment, such as protecting wildlife habitats and preserving water supplies, is expected to create demand for conservation scientists.
Getting in
How to become a Park Naturalist
Conservation scientists and foresters typically need a bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources, or a related field.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does a Park Naturalist do?
Plan, develop, and conduct programs to inform public of historical, natural, and scientific features of national, state, or local park.
Conservation scientists and foresters manage the land quality of forests, parks, rangelands, and other natural resources.
Day-to-day tasks
- Conduct field trips to point out scientific, historic, and natural features of parks, forests, historic sites, or other attractions.
- Provide visitor services, such as explaining regulations, answering visitor requests, needs and complaints, and providing information about the park and surrounding areas.
- Prepare and present illustrated lectures and interpretive talks about park features.
- Assist with operations of general facilities, such as visitor centers.
- Develop environmental educational programs and curricula for schools.
- Confer with park staff to determine subjects and schedules for park programs.
- Provide care for park program animals.
- Plan and organize public events at the park.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most conservation scientists and foresters work full time, and schedules may vary to include weekends. Some work more than 40 hours per week, such as when traveling to remote locations.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where park naturalists work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Federal government, excluding postal service27%
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals21%
- Social advocacy organizations20%
- State government, excluding education and hospitals19%
- Professional, scientific, and technical services5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 27% |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 21% |
| Social advocacy organizations | 20% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 19% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 5% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Speaking4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Writing3.9
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Monitoring3.3
- Active Learning3.1
- Learning Strategies3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.8
- Service Orientation3.4
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Instructing3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Management of Personnel Resources3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.8 |
| Service Orientation | 3.4 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Instructing | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Web platform development software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software
- Internet browser software
- Map creation software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Park Naturalist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Park Naturalist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 5 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Social4.9
- Realistic4.4
- Investigative4.2
- Artistic3.7
- Enterprising3.5
- Conventional3.4
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Park Naturalist
O*NET related occupations
- Personal Care and Service
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Personal Care and Service
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Protective Service
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with park naturalists highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Park Naturalist$73,010
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Park Naturalist | $73,010 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Park Naturalist appears on
Questions
Park Naturalist: frequently asked questions
How much do Park Naturalists make?
Park Naturalists earn a median of $73,010 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 43% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $35.10/hr. The middle half earn between $57,700 and $91,560. The top 10% earn $110,410 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Park Naturalist?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Park Naturalists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation.
Is Park Naturalist a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.3% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 2,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Park Naturalist do?
Conservation scientists and foresters manage the land quality of forests, parks, rangelands, and other natural resources. A core O*NET task: conduct field trips to point out scientific, historic, and natural features of parks, forests, historic sites, or other attractions. Employers most often ask for Document management software, Electronic mail software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Park Naturalists the most?
The highest state medians for Park Naturalists are District of Columbia ($99,400), Colorado ($84,820), Maryland ($83,290) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Louisiana moves to the top at $90,911.
What personality type suits a Park Naturalist?
O*NET scores Park Naturalists highest on the Social, Realistic and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISFP, INFP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.