# Park Naturalists

> Plan, develop, and conduct programs to inform public of historical, natural, and scientific features of national, state, or local park.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/park-naturalists
- SOC code: 19-1031.03
- Career family: Science
- Median annual pay: $73,010 (10th percentile $47,550, 90th percentile $110,410)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +5.3%
- Openings a year: 2,100
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Conservation scientists".

## Interest profile (code SRI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 56 |
| Investigative (I) | 54 |
| Artistic (A) | 46 |
| Social (S) | 65 |
| Enterprising (E) | 41 |
| Conventional (C) | 41 |

## What you'd do

- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 97/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 93/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 86/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 84/100)
- Training and Teaching Others (importance 84/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 83/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 80/100)
- Getting Information (importance 79/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 75/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 72/100)

## Skills

Speaking, Active Listening, Writing, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, Biology, English Language, Education and Training, Geography, Public Safety and Security, Communications and Media, History and Archeology, Sociology and Anthropology, Administration and Management

## Also called

Camp Ranger, Environmental Education Specialist, Environmental Educator, Interpretation Park Ranger, Interpretive Naturalist, Interpretive Park Ranger, National Park Ranger, Natural Resource Educator, Naturalist, Park Activities Coordinator

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Natural Resources Conservation and Research](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0301) (CIP 0301, 1,081 colleges)
- [Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2613) (CIP 2613, 353 colleges)
- [Agricultural Production Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0103) (CIP 0103, 294 colleges)
- [Sustainability Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3033) (CIP 3033, 279 colleges)
- [Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0302) (CIP 0302, 204 colleges)
- [Plant Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0111) (CIP 0111, 162 colleges)
- [Forestry](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0305) (CIP 0305, 132 colleges)
- [Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0306) (CIP 0306, 94 colleges)
- [Geography and Environmental Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3044) (CIP 3044, 67 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [North Carolina State University at Raleigh](https://www.collegesref.com/college/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh-1884) | Forestry | $75,247 | $86,357 | $18,115 |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | Sustainability Studies | $80,080 | $85,545 | $27,000 |
| [North Dakota State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/north-dakota-state-university-main-campus-1896) | Agricultural Production Operations | $66,359 | $83,779 | $23,246 |
| [Boston College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/boston-college-285) | Natural Resources Conservation and Research | not reported | $82,861 | not reported |
| [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo-slo-360) | Plant Sciences | $58,916 | $82,487 | $19,333 |
| [California State University-Bakersfield](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-bakersfield-364) | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | not reported | $82,315 | not reported |
| [California Polytechnic State University-Humboldt](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-humboldt-361) | Forestry | $45,692 | $79,849 | $19,122 |
| [University of Southern California USC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $38,709 | $78,731 | $19,000 |

## Related careers

- [Tour Guides and Escorts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/tour-guides-and-escorts): $38,120 median pay
- [Forest and Conservation Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forest-and-conservation-technicians): $54,560 median pay
- [Recreation Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/recreation-workers): $36,560 median pay
- [Range Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/range-managers): $73,010 median pay
- [Fish and Game Wardens](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fish-and-game-wardens): $74,060 median pay
- [Conservation Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/conservation-scientists): $73,010 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.