Park Naturalists Career, Salary and Skills
Park Naturalists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $73,010 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 25,950. Wage data is published for 184 locations.
Occupation description
Plan, develop, and conduct programs to inform public of historical, natural, and scientific features of national, state, or local park.
O*NET code
19-1031.03
Job zone
4
Typical education
Not recorded
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$73,010
Hourly median
$35.10
Employment
25,950
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Writing | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.75 | 3.62 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Service Orientation | 3.38 | 3.25 |
| Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Active Learning | 3.12 | 3.25 |
Typical tasks
- Assist with operations of general facilities, such as visitor centers.
- Provide care for park program animals.
- Conduct field trips to point out scientific, historic, and natural features of parks, forests, historic sites, or other attractions.
- Provide visitor services, such as explaining regulations, answering visitor requests, needs and complaints, and providing information about the park and surrounding areas.
- Prepare and present illustrated lectures and interpretive talks about park features.
- Plan and organize public events at the park.
- Plan, organize and direct activities of seasonal staff members.
- Train staff and volunteers on park programs.
Technology
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe PageMaker
- Email software
- Mapping software
- MicroFocus GroupWise
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Web browser software
Park Naturalists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Park Naturalists Salary in CAMedian $79,810 · Employment 2,110
- Park Naturalists Salary in TXMedian $68,620 · Employment 1,970
- Park Naturalists Salary in WAMedian $78,450 · Employment 1,270
- Park Naturalists Salary in COMedian $84,820 · Employment 1,230
- Park Naturalists Salary in ORMedian $80,790 · Employment 1,020
- Park Naturalists Salary in WIMedian $79,540 · Employment 970
- Park Naturalists Salary in FLMedian $51,130 · Employment 950
- Park Naturalists Salary in PAMedian $61,480 · Employment 900
- Park Naturalists Salary in MIMedian $63,500 · Employment 820
- Park Naturalists Salary in MNMedian $71,280 · Employment 770
- Park Naturalists Salary in MAMedian $78,740 · Employment 760
- Park Naturalists Salary in ILMedian $69,590 · Employment 730
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.