What Are National Park Service Jobs Actually Like?

An outdoor career focused on protecting the environment might be an excellent fit for you. If you want to spend your time in nature, National Park Service jobs could become the most fulfilling opportunities for your interests. Learn more about what those jobs look like, what you need to get the job and which types of service jobs you should consider if you want to spend your career in national parks.

What Are National Park Service Jobs?

National Park Service jobs are opportunities to educate the public, protect the environment and inspire future generations to appreciate nature. People in these roles work in over 400 national parks throughout the U.S., which includes Guam and the Virgin Islands. The jobs are both permanent and seasonal, so there’s more flexibility in career possibilities compared to a standard full-time job in an office.

Types of National Park Service Jobs and Their Daily Roles

There are numerous ways you could get involved with a national park. Check out the various types of National Park Service jobs to find one that would best fit your lifestyle or career expectations.

Volunteer Positions

Volunteer opportunities let people of all ages build the skills they need for their desired careers. You could volunteer with a national park for a day or all year round. It depends on what roles are open close to where you live.

You might get to spend your time rebuilding trails, leading educational programs, working as a campground host or even partnering with museum staff to preserve cultural resources. Check out potential volunteer positions to see what’s available in your region.

Internship Opportunities

Whether you’re a full-time student or an outdoor enthusiast who knows their way around a campfire, interning with a national park could launch your career. These paid roles are open to people under the age of 35 and are available in 19 sections of the National Park Service.

You could get paid to practice historic preservation with the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps or get involved in the biological sciences of the Scientists in Parks Program. Consider your career interests to match skills like engineering, archeology or curating with an internship role.

Seasonal Service Jobs

The National Park Service has internships, volunteer roles and employment opportunities available during specific seasons. The bureau hires around 7,500 federal summer employees each year to help while the warm weather makes parks flourish and increases tourist numbers.

You could also find seasonal work during cold-weather months, depending on which park is closest to your home. Browse every type of service job opportunity to select from the seasonal roles that best match your skills and career interests.

Permanent Employment

People also build lifelong careers within the National Park Service. Browse the available permanent jobs that frequently open up in national parks. Check often to see which roles interest you most. You might enjoy a career as a wildland firefighter, an administrative assistant or a maintenance worker at a historical site. 

No matter which career path interests you, you’ll find people from all over the country working in the National Park Service. Chat with the people working closest to you to get constructive feedback from mentors and adapt to your job more easily.

You should also think about what comes with each job before signing up for anything. People often look for National Park Service jobs with housing provided. Roles like transit operators, lodging staff members and park hosts come with housing due to the long drive between the parks and residential neighborhoods. Read each job listing carefully to see if the most interesting positions come with perks like housing, local discounts or free RV hookups.

Roles for People Over 55

The National Park Service offers part-time and full-time jobs to people over 55. It’s part of the bureau’s Experienced Services Program (ESP). The ESP helps the National Park Service fill much-needed roles with qualified applicants who already have career experience to lend to their teams. 

These positions are mostly temporary, as people over 55 are often ready to retire. It’s a great fit if you have finished your career but don’t want to quit working just yet. People who qualify for the ESP could also volunteer once or twice a year during retirement if preferred.

What Education Do You Need for a National Park Career?

While you don’t necessarily need a college degree to earn money leading paranormal tours or testing pet food, National Park Service jobs are different. The various types of roles may require specific educational backgrounds. Read any interesting job listing carefully to see if you have the required education to qualify for an interview.

If you’re interning in a park management office, you might need either a park management education or enrollment in a similar field. It also depends on your state. States have various requirements for National Park Service roles. Positions that aren’t internships may require you to prove that you are actively taking college classes or have completed a degree.

Skills You Need for Park Ranger Jobs

When people picture National Park Service jobs, they often imagine park rangers. They’re the people in the wide-brimmed hats and button-down shirts that appear in movies, TV shows and National Park pamphlets.

You should browse park ranger jobs on the permanent employment job board link above if you’re interested in this position. Park rangers do things like lead interactive programs, educate visitors, enforce park rules and provide emergency response services.

You could spend your days in a remote mountain post or interacting with visitors at historical sites. The role has diverse possibilities, but ensure you have required skills like: 

• Good attention to detail
• Customer service experience
• Oral communication abilities 
• Teamwork skills
• Technical competence 

If you get a public-facing role, remember to develop interpersonal skills like body language and word choice. Park ranger jobs often involve meeting visitors and answering their questions. You’ll need to know how to provide great customer service, remain professional and maintain a positive attitude to ensure everyone has a great experience while they’re at the park.

National Park Service Jobs With Housing

There are many National Park Service jobs with housing included. Remote roles high in the mountains or deep in forests aren’t close enough to residential areas for employees to have typical commutes. Check any interesting job or volunteer listing to see if housing is a benefit for whoever fills that role. Since it’s a job-specific perk, you’ll have to keep an eye out for housing allowances.

Prepare for Your Future Career

Whether you’re interested in park ranger jobs or any role in the National Park Service, there’s a position ready for you. Check the job listings to find a good fit for your age, time, career and interests. You’ll match with National Park Service jobs that make each day more fulfilling.