1

Seasonal Park Ranger Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Senior Lifeguard

San Rafael, CA · On-site

$30.14 - $33.22/hr

Supervising a small staff of seasonal Lifeguards; providing ongoing training to staff; scheduling ... Park Ranger; ensuring that the proper level of first aid supplies are available on site; enforcing ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Seasonal Park Ranger information

See California salary details

$11

$20

$39

How much do seasonal park ranger jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for seasonal park ranger in California is $20.39, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.07 and $21.11 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a seasonal park ranger?

Seasonal Park Rangers are temporary employees who work in parks, forests, or recreation areas during peak seasons, such as summer or holidays. They help protect natural resources, assist visitors, enforce park rules, and provide educational programs. Their duties often include patrolling park grounds, responding to emergencies, and maintaining trails or facilities. Seasonal Park Rangers play a crucial role in ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for park visitors.

What are some common challenges faced by seasonal park rangers during peak visitor periods?

Seasonal Park Rangers often experience increased workloads during peak seasons due to higher visitor numbers, which can lead to challenges in managing crowds, ensuring visitor safety, and maintaining park facilities. Balancing educational duties, law enforcement, and emergency response requires strong multitasking and communication skills. Additionally, adapting to changing weather conditions and working irregular hours, including weekends and holidays, are typical aspects of the role. Staying proactive and collaborating closely with other rangers and park staff helps ensure a positive experience for both visitors and employees.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a seasonal park ranger, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Seasonal Park Ranger, you generally need knowledge of natural resource management, outdoor safety, and public education, often supported by coursework in environmental science or related fields. Familiarity with GIS mapping tools, two-way radios, and basic first aid certifications is common in this role. Excellent interpersonal communication, problem-solving abilities, and a strong customer service orientation help rangers engage effectively with visitors and handle emergencies. These competencies are crucial for ensuring visitor safety, protecting park resources, and delivering positive outdoor experiences.

What is the difference between Seasonal Park Ranger vs Full-Time Park Ranger?

AspectSeasonal Park RangerFull-Time Park Ranger
CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; certifications in first aid and CPR often preferredSame as seasonal; often requires additional experience or certifications
Work EnvironmentPart-time, seasonal roles primarily during peak seasons in parks and recreation areasYear-round employment in parks, maintaining facilities, enforcing regulations, and visitor assistance
Employer & IndustryFederal, state, or local parks and recreation agenciesSame as seasonal, with additional responsibilities and stability

Seasonal Park Rangers typically work during peak seasons, focusing on visitor safety and park maintenance, while Full-Time Park Rangers have year-round roles with broader responsibilities. Both roles require similar credentials and work in similar environments, but the employment duration and scope differ.

What are the most commonly searched types of Park Ranger jobs in California?

The most popular types of Park Ranger jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Seasonal Park Ranger jobs in California?

For Seasonal Park Ranger jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Seasonal Park Ranger jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Seasonal Park Ranger jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Seasonal Park Ranger jobs?

Cities in California with the most Seasonal Park Ranger job openings:

Infographic showing various Seasonal Park Ranger job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $42,414 per year, or $20.4 per hour.

$28.19/hr

Full-time, Part-time

Posted 5 days ago


U.S. Department Of The Interior rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 14 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

416th of 848 rated public administrative organizations


Job description

You will serve as a Park Ranger (OHV) (Seasonal) with the California Bureau of Land Management, El Centro Field Office located in El Centro, California.
We expect to fill 2 Seasonal Park Ranger (OHV) vacancies.
Applicants will get a response from this announcement by approximately September 2026.
Note: These are NOT Law Enforcement positions.

Qualifications:

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/26/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

Selective Placement Factors: This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified:

  • Must possess a current National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT), EMT or higher-level, certification, by the close date of this announcement. You MUST provide your certificate/card in your application. -OR-
  • Must possess a current and valid California State EMT License and Certification. You MUST provide your certificate/card in your application.

Minimum Qualifications: In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.
At the GS-07 Level: One-year specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-5 level. Examples of specialized experience include experience as a park guide or tour leader; law enforcement or investigative work; archeological or historical preservation research work; forestry 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; explaining regulations to park visitors; providing information and advice on park activities and resources; maintaining recreation facilities or trails; monitoring special recreation permits; or assisting with supervision of seasonal recreation technicians. Specialized experience will include basic knowledge of Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use on public lands or similar environment. -OR-
Education:
Successful completion of at least one year of graduate level study (18 hours) in directly related fields such as natural resource management, natural sciences, earth sciences, history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, law enforcement/police science, social sciences, museum sciences, business administration, public administration, behavioral sciences, sociology, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources. You must include transcripts. -OR-
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of specialized experience and education to meet total 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:

You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification

Employment Type: OTHER

What U.S. Department Of The Interior employees say

Pay

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom