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Park Guide Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Requirements include an associate's degree and no less than three years of relevant work experience such as a visitor use assistant, docent, park guide, or in-person customer service; or five years ...

$24 - $24.36/hr

Five years of relevant experience such as a visitor use assistant, docent, park guide, or in-person customer service. * Maintain basic computer skills, ability to operate kiosks and basic office ...

Tour Guide

Chanhassen, MN · On-site

$14 - $17/hr

Become a tour guide for Paisley Park, a place where art, music, fashion, and culture are celebrated, energized, and inspired by the visionary creative spirit of Prince. As a Tour Guide, you provide ...

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Park Guide information

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$14

$16

$18

How much do park guide jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for park guide in the United States is $16.16, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.38 and $15.62 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some of the key challenges Park Guides face when interacting with diverse visitor groups?

Park Guides often encounter visitors from a wide range of backgrounds, ages, and interests, which can present challenges in effectively communicating park rules, safety guidelines, and historical or environmental information. Adapting presentations to engage different audiences—such as school groups, international tourists, or families—requires flexibility and strong interpersonal skills. Additionally, Park Guides must be prepared to handle unexpected situations, such as medical emergencies or weather changes, while maintaining a welcoming and informative atmosphere. These challenges make every day unique and help Guides develop valuable communication and problem-solving skills.

What is the difference between Park Guide vs Park Ranger?

AspectPark GuidePark Ranger
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; some positions may require guides certification or trainingHigh school diploma; often requires law enforcement or conservation certifications
Work EnvironmentTourist areas, visitor centers, outdoor trailsNatural parks, conservation areas, enforcement zones
Employer & Industry UsageTourism companies, national parks, private parksGovernment agencies, national and state parks
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding visitor services and guiding rolesConservation, enforcement, and park management

While both roles involve outdoor work and interaction with visitors, a Park Guide primarily focuses on leading tours and providing information to tourists, whereas a Park Ranger has broader responsibilities including conservation, enforcement, and park management. The roles often overlap in outdoor settings but differ in scope and required credentials.

What are Park Guides?

Park Guides are professionals who provide information and interpretive services to visitors at parks, historic sites, and nature reserves. They lead tours, answer questions, help protect park resources, and ensure visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience. Park Guides may also assist with educational programs, enforce park regulations, and promote conservation efforts. Their work helps connect the public with natural and cultural heritage.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Park Guide, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Park Guide, you generally need knowledge of natural and cultural resources, strong public speaking skills, and a background in environmental science, history, or related fields. Familiarity with interpretive tools, reservation systems, and first aid certification is often required. Exceptional interpersonal skills, enthusiasm, and adaptability help Park Guides engage diverse visitors and create memorable experiences. These skills ensure effective education, visitor safety, and positive representation of the park's mission.

What Does a Park Guide Do?

A park guide provides a range of informational services to park visitors. As a park guide, your duties and responsibilities range from leading educational programs, taking visitors on tours or guided walks, maintaining the information material at a park visitor center, and distributing and updating maps of trails or other features at the park. Your work may be seasonal, or you may work at parks that are open year round. You may have some retail or administrative responsibilities and occasionally help perform park maintenance as well.

What cities are hiring for Park Guide jobs? Cities with the most Park Guide job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Park Guide jobs? The most popular types of Park Guide jobs are:
What states have the most Park Guide jobs? States with the most job openings for Park Guide jobs include:
What are popular job titles related to Park Guide jobs? For Park Guide jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Park Guide job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 48% Full Time, 35% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 14% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $33,605 per year, or $16.2 per hour.
Field Unit Local Hiring Authority (FUL) - Park Guide

Field Unit Local Hiring Authority (FUL) - Park Guide

National Park Service

Greeneville, TN • On-site, Remote

$40K - $52K/yr

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago


National Park Service rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 98 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

120th of 276 rated public sector bodies


Job description

Summary
This position is located in Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, in the Interpretation Division.
Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis. You will work approximately 50 weeks per year from January - December and you will be in a non-pay status for the remainder of the year.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
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At the full performance level GS-05, the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:
  1. Provides pre-established interpretive talks following a prescribed outline, requiring application of broad subject matter knowledge of the site's historic resources.
  2. Presents guided tours utilizing a prescribed tour outline, guiding up to 50 visitors.
  3. Staffing a park visitor center.
  4. Provides a wide range of visitor services including providing welcome/orientation information, make sales using cooperating association Standard Operating Procedures.
  5. Assists with organized school groups and participates in park and/or community special events.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment
  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
  • You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
  • If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.

Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-06/29/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
To qualify for this position at the GS-5 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
GS-5:
A. Specialized Experience:
To qualify for the GS-5, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as experience that involved oral presentation of historical, scientific, or program information to groups; or developing and/or revising technical, historical, or scientific information for oral presentation to groups.
-OR
B. Education:
Successful completion of four years of education above high school leading to a
bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, such as American history, science,
public speaking, parks and recreation, education or communications.. You must include
transcripts.
-OR
C.
Combination of education and experience:
A combination of education and experience that totals 100% of the required specialized experience.
Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your 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 qualified specialized experience.
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.
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 interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.
Additional information
This position will be filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority. Eligibility is limited to applicants who reside within the defined local commuting area at the time of application. For this announcement, the local commuting area is the area from which individuals can reasonably commute to the duty station under normal conditions. The defined vicinity for this position is within 50 miles of Andrew Johsnson National Historic Site, Park Headquarters, 121 Monument Ave., Greeneville, Tennessee 37743. See the Required Documents section for information on how to verify current residence.
A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
Physical Demands: The work requires standing for long periods of time, walking for long distances, climbing and descending steep inclines, bending, and lifting moderately heavy items. Mental stress and physical fatigue occur due to high volume of personal contacts, occasional emergency responses, and repetitive nature of interpretive programs.
Working Conditions: Work is performed both indoors and outdoors resulting in exposure to a variety of weather conditions.
The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.
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. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001).
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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