# Range Managers

> Research or study range land management practices to provide sustained production of forage, livestock, and wildlife.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/range-managers
- SOC code: 19-1031.02
- 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 RIE)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 79 |
| Investigative (I) | 67 |
| Artistic (A) | 8 |
| Social (S) | 24 |
| Enterprising (E) | 56 |
| Conventional (C) | 45 |

## What you'd do

- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 88/100)
- Getting Information (importance 86/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 84/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 82/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 81/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 80/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 78/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 75/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 75/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 74/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation, Writing

## Knowledge

Biology, English Language, Law and Government, Geography, Customer and Personal Service, Administration and Management, Mathematics, Computers and Electronics, Education and Training, Administrative

## Also called

Conservationist, Forest Range Program Manager, Forestry and Wildlife Manager, Land Management Supervisor, Natural Resource Management Specialist, Natural Resource Manager, Natural Resource Officer, Natural Resource Specialist, Natural Resources Officer, Natural Resources Specialist

## 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

- [Conservation Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/conservation-scientists): $73,010 median pay
- [Environmental Restoration Planners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-restoration-planners): $82,220 median pay
- [Foresters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/foresters): $76,400 median pay
- [Soil and Plant Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/soil-and-plant-scientists): $78,850 median pay
- [Industrial Ecologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-ecologists): $82,220 median pay
- [Water Resource Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-resource-specialists): $167,220 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.