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Forest Ranger
Outdoor & AdventureYou manage and protect public forest lands, which means firefighting, trail maintenance, timber management, and educating the public about why they can't just have a campfire wherever they feel like it. You'll live in remote areas, drive trucks on dirt roads, and develop a deep relationship with solitude. The work is seasonal, the views are spectacular, and the bears are closer than you'd like.
Salary Range
Low
$30k
Median
$42k
High
$65k
10-Year Growth
average
US Workers
32K
Education
Bachelor's in Forestry, Natural Resources, or related field
Environment
outdoor
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸Wildland fire suppression and prevention
- ▸Timber cruising and forest inventory
- ▸GIS and GPS navigation in wilderness
- ▸Chainsaw and heavy equipment operation
- ▸Prescribed burn planning and execution
- ▸Trail construction and maintenance
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Physical fitness and endurance
- ▸Self-sufficiency in remote locations
- ▸Public communication and education
- ▸Environmental stewardship
- ▸Leadership in emergency situations
What you'll actually do
- 01Patrol forest lands and enforce regulations for people who think 'public land' means 'no rules'
- 02Monitor fire danger and respond to wildfires that can go from manageable to catastrophic in hours
- 03Maintain trails, roads, and facilities in areas that weather is constantly trying to reclaim
- 04Manage timber harvests and reforestation efforts that balance economics with ecology
- 05Conduct wildlife surveys and habitat assessments in places most people will never see
- 06Live in remote duty stations where 'running to the store' is a 2-hour round trip
Related Shifts
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