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Wilderness Ranger Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Dream Golf

Starter @ The Lido

Nekoosa, WI · On-site

$12.50 - $16.25/hr

... Wilderness. Beyond premier golf, Sand Valley is a year-round celebration of all the outdoors from fat-tire biking, hiking, and kayaking to ice hockey, skating, or a guided cold plunge. The resort now ...

Dream Golf

Starter @ The Lido

Nekoosa, WI · On-site

$12.50 - $16.25/hr

... Wilderness. Beyond premier golf, Sand Valley is a year-round celebration of all the outdoors from fat-tire biking, hiking, and kayaking to ice hockey, skating, or a guided cold plunge. The resort now ...

Lever Organic

Starter @ The Lido

Nekoosa, WI

$12.50 - $16.25/hr

... Wilderness. Beyond premier golf, Sand Valley is a year-round celebration of all the outdoors from fat-tire biking, hiking, and kayaking to ice hockey, skating, or a guided cold plunge. The resort now ...

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How much do wilderness ranger jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for wilderness ranger in the United States is $20.66, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.31 and $21.39 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a wilderness ranger do?

A Wilderness Ranger is responsible for protecting and maintaining designated wilderness areas. They patrol trails, educate visitors on Leave No Trace principles, perform trail maintenance, and monitor environmental conditions. Rangers also enforce regulations to ensure the preservation of natural resources. Their work helps maintain the ecological integrity of wilderness areas while promoting safe and responsible recreation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a wilderness ranger?

To thrive as a Wilderness Ranger, you need strong outdoor survival skills, ecological knowledge, physical fitness, and usually a degree in natural resource management or a related field. Familiarity with GPS navigation, radio communication, first aid/CPR certification, and park management systems is often required. Outstanding interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, and adaptability help rangers interact with visitors and handle unpredictable situations. These abilities are essential for effectively protecting natural resources, ensuring visitor safety, and promoting positive experiences in wilderness areas.

What are the most common challenges faced by wilderness rangers in the field?

Wilderness Rangers often encounter unpredictable weather conditions, remote terrain, and limited resources, which can make daily tasks physically and mentally demanding. Managing visitor safety, enforcing regulations, and responding to emergencies are regular challenges, especially in high-traffic or sensitive ecological areas. Collaboration with other rangers, law enforcement, scientists, and volunteers is frequent, requiring strong teamwork and communication skills. Successfully navigating these challenges is rewarding but demands flexibility, problem-solving abilities, and a genuine passion for conservation.

Is it hard to get a job as a wilderness ranger?

Getting a job as a wilderness ranger can be competitive, often requiring relevant experience, physical fitness, and knowledge of conservation practices. Many positions are seasonal and may require certifications such as CPR or first aid, along with a background in outdoor skills and environmental education.
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Wilderness Ranger jobs near you
Infographic showing various Wilderness Ranger job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 3% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $42,977 per year, or $20.7 per hour.

Forestry Technician (Recreation)

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Gardiner, MT • On-site

$19.52/hr

Full-time

Posted 16 days ago

USDA Forest Service rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 120 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

159th of 292 rated public sector bodies

Job description

This position is located within a National Forest. The incumbent is responsible for providing technical support to the unit recreation and snow ranger programs. As a Snow Ranger duties are to monitor winter recreation activities from December through April on National Forest Lands.Qualifications:In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.
Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.
GS-05: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-4 grade level; OR a bachelor's degree or 4 years of successfully completed education above high school (120 semester/180 quarter hours) with major study in forestry, range management, agriculture, or a subject-matter field directly related to the position, or that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources, outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science (no more than 6 semester hours in mathematics is creditable); OR combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (in excess of the first 60 semester/90 quarter hours) and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.
Examples of specialized experience include: Working as a Forest Protection Officer (FPO) or similar position writing incident reports or violation notices as needed; providing technical support to the recreation program on the unit performing winter patrols of wilderness boundaries to assure compliance with winter recreation regulations and winter travel plans; providing information on resource management practices and recreation regulations, opportunities, and restrictions; ensuring recreation areas and trails were maintained in accordance with standards; and performing crew-based forestry related support work, such as for recreation or trail maintenance projects.
Selective Placement Factors
  • Incumbent must meet the Minimum Level I American Avalanche Association or equivalent certification.
  • First Aid and CPR certification is required to perform duties.
  • A valid driver's license is required to drive motor vehicles.
  • Use of snowshoes, skis, ATV's, and snowmobiles is required, with the ability to safely move and reposition snowmobiles in deep snow, load/unload snowmobiles from trailers, etc.
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.
To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.Education:Employment Type: OTHER

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