Park Ranger Career Ladder
An unrestricted driver's license is required for all positions. Additional position-specific
requirements may be identified for Park Ranger 3 - 4 at the time of recruitment.
Park Ranger 1
$33,588 - $43,836 per year
This is the entry level of the series. Incumbents are assigned progressively more complex and responsible
duties. This level is designed to provide training opportunities and experience to become a fully qualified
park ranger. Incumbents must successfully complete a law enforcement academy as approved by the Washington
State Parks and Recreation Commission and agency identified training within the first 18 months of employment.
Incumbents may serve as a lead worker for less trained park employees, volunteers, and temporary employees.
Trained incumbents may be assigned as lead workers for seasonal staff or serve as shift supervisors.
Minimum Requirements: A Bachelor’s degree with 24 quarter/18 semester hours in parks and
recreation or a natural resource field (Anthropology, Archaeology, Biology, Botany, Chemistry,
Conservation, Ecology, Environmental Science, Forestry, Geology, History, Horticulture, Natural
Resources, Outdoor Recreation, Park Management, Physics, Recreation, Wildlife, Zoology, or other
related fields). Experience in a natural resources or outdoor recreation field or experience as a
commissioned law enforcement officer will substitute, year for year, for education provided that 24
quarter/18 semester hours in parks and recreation or a natural resource field have been attained.
Note: This is an in-training classification. After successful completion of the in-training plan
(initially set at 18 months) incumbents will promote to Park Ranger 2.
Park Ranger 2
$37,800 – 49,572 per year
Park Ranger 2s independently perform journey level Park Ranger duties including law enforcement
and may have one of the following assignments:
- Serve as a head ranger in a Class 2 satellite park unit in an area management concept.
- Serve as principal assistant to a Park Ranger 3.
- Leads and direct one or more permanent Park Ranger 1.
- Serves as a full-time, year-round Environmental Learning Center (ELC) Manager.
Minimum Requirements: Same as Park Ranger 1 plus one year of experience as a park ranger,
commissioned law enforcement officer or equivalent experience in a natural resource field.
Park Ranger 3
$44,928 – $58,944 per year
This is the senior level of the series. Positions at this level typically have one of the following
assignments:
- Responsibility for the management and operation of a Class 3 or Class 4 State park or park area.
- Serve as principal assistant to the manager of a Class 5 or Class 6 State park or park area in developing,
controlling and accomplishing all program activities for a group of parks in non-contiguous locations.
Minimum Requirements: Same as Park Ranger 1 plus two years of experience as a park ranger,
commissioned law enforcement officer or equivalent experience in a natural resources field.
Park Ranger 4
$56,112 – $73,608 per year
This is the supervisory or expert level of the series. Positions at this level typically manage a
Class 5 or Class 6 State park or park area developing, controlling and accomplishing all program
activities for a parks or park areas in non-contiguous locations. Positions may serve as the principal
assistant to a Regional Manager in the administration, development, maintenance, visitor services and
law enforcement of State parks or park areas in an assigned Region.
Minimum Requirements: Same as Park Ranger 1 plus three years of experience as a park ranger,
commissioned law enforcement officer or equivalent experience in a natural resources field.
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