SOC 19-1031 · May 2025
Park Ranger Salary
Park Rangers in the US earn a median of $73,010 a year ($37.08 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. The top 10% earn $110,410 or more, 2.3 times the $47,550 at the 10th percentile.
Median annual
$73,010
Half of all Park Rangers in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Hourly
$37.08
Job growth 2025-35
+5.3%
US workers
25,950
BLS series
Annual median wage for Conservation Scientists in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Park Rangers is $47,550 – $110,410.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$47,550
25th
$57,700
Median
$73,010
75th
$91,560
90th
$110,410
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Park Rangers. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $47,550 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $57,700 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $73,010 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $91,560 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $110,410 |
Geography
Park Ranger pay by state
Park Rangers earn the most in D.C. ($99,400, +36% against the national median) and the least in Florida ($51,130). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$73,010
Highest-paying states for park rangers
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| D.C. | $99,400 | +36% | 110 |
| Colorado | $84,820 | +16% | 1,230 |
| Maryland | $83,290 | +14% | 470 |
| Idaho | $81,330 | +11% | 300 |
| Wyoming | $81,310 | +11% | 150 |
| Oregon | $80,790 | +11% | 1,020 |
| Louisiana | $80,190 | +10% | 190 |
| California | $79,810 | +9% | 2,110 |
| Wisconsin | $79,540 | +9% | 970 |
| Alaska | $79,260 | +9% | 290 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| D.C. | $99,400 | 110 |
| Colorado | $84,820 | 1,230 |
| Maryland | $83,290 | 470 |
| Idaho | $81,330 | 300 |
| Wyoming | $81,310 | 150 |
| Oregon | $80,790 | 1,020 |
| Louisiana | $80,190 | 190 |
| California | $79,810 | 2,110 |
| Wisconsin | $79,540 | 970 |
| Alaska | $79,260 | 290 |
| Utah | $78,850 | 410 |
| Massachusetts | $78,740 | 760 |
| Washington | $78,450 | 1,270 |
| Virginia | $77,380 | 480 |
| North Dakota | $77,280 | 340 |
| Alabama | $77,000 | 110 |
| New York | $76,990 | 640 |
| New Mexico | $76,800 | 330 |
| South Dakota | $76,400 | 360 |
| Nebraska | $76,400 | 220 |
| Rhode Island | $76,130 | 60 |
| Maine | $75,900 | 290 |
| New Hampshire | $74,650 | 130 |
| Montana | $73,920 | 560 |
| Connecticut | $73,860 | 140 |
| Arkansas | $73,320 | 230 |
| Nevada | $73,030 | 210 |
| Kentucky | $71,980 | 180 |
| Minnesota | $71,280 | 770 |
| Oklahoma | $71,270 | 310 |
| Tennessee | $70,500 | 250 |
| Vermont | $70,130 | 100 |
| West Virginia | $69,910 | 160 |
| Illinois | $69,590 | 730 |
| Iowa | $69,240 | 610 |
| Georgia | $69,240 | 360 |
| Texas | $68,620 | 1,970 |
| Kansas | $67,200 | 220 |
| Arizona | $66,750 | 410 |
| Hawaii | $65,740 | 220 |
| Indiana | $64,570 | 430 |
| North Carolina | $64,460 | 540 |
| New Jersey | $64,020 | 500 |
| Delaware | $63,850 | 80 |
| Michigan | $63,500 | 820 |
| Ohio | $63,160 | 680 |
| Missouri | $63,130 | 600 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,480 | 900 |
| Mississippi | $59,510 | 470 |
| South Carolina | $52,310 | 300 |
| Florida | $51,130 | 950 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Park Rangers
Forest and conservation workers, plus law-enforcement protective-service rangers (BLS SOC 33-9011) protect, manage, and improve forests, parks, and recreational areas. The role spans federal (NPS, USFS, BLM), state, and local park systems. Federal commissioned ranger positions and law-enforcement-classified rangers typically pay above general-service interpretive and maintenance ranger positions.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $47,550 – $110,410. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are D.C., Colorado and Maryland. Pay in D.C. runs 1.9 times the level in Florida, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as bachelor's degree, and projects about 2,100 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 5.3% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Park Ranger salary in the US?
How much does a Park Ranger make an hour?
How much do Park Rangers make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Park Rangers the most?
Is the average Park Ranger salary higher than the median?
Is Park Ranger a growing career?
Open positions
Open Park Ranger roles hiring now
Browse current Park Ranger listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 19-1031. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.