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National Forest Ranger Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

National Forest Ranger information

See Texas salary details

$4

$20

$28

How much do national forest ranger jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for national forest ranger in Texas is $20.31, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.02 and $24.18 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a National Forest Ranger job?

A National Forest Ranger is a professional responsible for managing and protecting public lands within national forests. Their duties include enforcing regulations, conserving natural resources, maintaining trails and facilities, conducting search and rescue operations, and educating the public about forest conservation. They work for the U.S. Forest Service and may specialize in law enforcement, wildfire management, or recreation services. Rangers play a crucial role in balancing environmental preservation with public access and use.

What does a national forest ranger do?

A national forest ranger is responsible for managing and protecting forest resources, enforcing regulations, assisting visitors, and conducting conservation efforts. They often patrol the area, provide educational programs, and may require certifications in firefighting or first aid. The role involves working outdoors in various weather conditions and ensuring the safety and sustainability of the forest environment.

What jobs pay 4000 a week without a degree?

Jobs that can pay around $4,000 a week without requiring a degree include certain high-paying skilled trades such as commercial fishing, offshore oil rig work, or specialized construction roles, often involving physically demanding work and certifications. Additionally, some entrepreneurial or sales positions, like real estate or high-ticket sales, can reach this income level with experience and performance. These roles typically require specific skills, certifications, or licenses rather than formal college degrees.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the National Forest Ranger position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a National Forest Ranger, you need a strong background in natural resource management, environmental science, and law enforcement, typically supported by a related degree and formal training. Familiarity with GIS mapping tools, radio communications, fire management equipment, and relevant federal certifications such as Wildland Firefighter (FFT2) is often required. Strong interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are valuable for working with the public and collaborating with diverse agencies. These skills and qualifications are critical for ensuring the safety, conservation, and effective management of national forest lands.

Is it hard to get a job as a national park ranger?

Becoming a national park ranger can be competitive due to limited openings and specific requirements such as relevant education, experience, and certifications like CPR or first aid. Candidates often need to demonstrate knowledge of conservation, law enforcement, or visitor services, and the hiring process may involve multiple steps including interviews and background checks.

What are some common challenges National Forest Rangers face in their daily work?

National Forest Rangers often encounter challenges such as enforcing regulations in remote and difficult terrain, responding to unpredictable emergencies like wildfires or search-and-rescue missions, and balancing conservation efforts with public access and recreation. They may work alone or in small teams, sometimes in adverse weather conditions or during long shifts. Collaborating with other rangers, law enforcement, scientists, and community groups is a frequent part of the job. Flexibility and quick decision-making are crucial to handle the varied and dynamic situations they face on a daily basis.

Did Trump dismantle Forest Service?

As a National Forest Ranger, there is no evidence that the Forest Service was dismantled during Donald Trump's presidency. The U.S. Forest Service continued its operations, focusing on forest management, conservation, and public safety. Policy changes during that time primarily involved budget adjustments and administrative reforms, not dismantling the agency.
What are the most commonly searched types of Forest Ranger jobs in Texas? The most popular types of Forest Ranger jobs in Texas are:
What are popular job titles related to National Forest Ranger jobs in Texas? For National Forest Ranger jobs in Texas, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching National Forest Ranger jobs in Texas look for? The top searched job categories for National Forest Ranger jobs in Texas are:
What cities in Texas are hiring for National Forest Ranger jobs? Cities in Texas with the most National Forest Ranger job openings:
Infographic showing various National Forest Ranger job openings in Texas as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 76% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 2% Temporary, 2% Contract, 1% Nights, and 1% Summer. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $42,245 per year, or $20.3 per hour.

$19.52/hr

Other

Posted 7 days ago


Job description

Interpretive Rangers develop and present educational programs including guided walks and presentations, and working with audiences in a variety of park settings.
Likely Entry On Duty: October- December 2026.
Open to the first 350 applicants or until 07/17/2026 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.
For more park(s) information, select "Learn more about this agency" below:Qualifications:All qualifications must be met by 11:59 EST or when the 'applicant cut-off' is reached (which may be sooner than 07/17/2026).
Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your 2 page resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.
To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess one of the following:
A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 level in the federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position. Experience may have been in technical, administrative, or scientific work, fish and wildlife management, recreation management, law enforcement, or other park related work. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: park guide or tour leader; environmental educator or teacher; law enforcement or investigative work; archaeological or historical preservation research work; forestry and/or fire management work in a park, recreation, or conservation area; management, assistant, or program specialist work involving the development and implementation of policy related to protection, conservation, or management of park areas or similar operations; or other similar work.
-OR-
B
. A 4 year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of related coursework (one year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours).
-OR-
C
. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined.
To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess one of the following:
A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equips the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: park guide or tour leader, work in a park, recreation or conservation area, environmental education, history and/or cultural resources education, and natural sciences education. Work will include independent research and presentation.
-OR-
B.
You must possess one full academic year of graduate education related to the occupation (one year of full-time graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours).
-OR-
C.
Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined.
Note: This position includes money handling preference for optional consideration. Money handling requires a higher background check.
Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sectors. The OPM Qualification Standards Handbook is available for review at: OPM Qualification Standards.
Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
ICTAP/CTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies.Education:To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign education programs and that (1) deemed your education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program, or (2) given full credit for courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.Employment Type: OTHER