LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

People dream of visiting the places we work every day! Do you like American history? Or the cultural resources of our country? Or wide open spaces? Or the excitement of the big city? Would you like the challenge of a diverse, multi-faceted, exciting career with a wide range of opportunities and locales across the country?

Experience your America and build a fulfilling career by becoming a law enforcement officer with the National Park Service!  Become part of our mission to unite our past, our cultures, and our special places.

We are a federal law enforcement agency, enforcing the full spectrum of federal regulations, including investigation, apprehension, and detention.  Many of our officers also perform additional duties including search and rescue and emergency medical services.

As a law enforcement Park Ranger, you will play a vital role in helping preserve America’s cherished natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources, a mission the National Park Service has been carrying out since it was established in 1916.

The National Park Service is one of the most visible and beloved of all federal agencies.  We care for and conserve special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.

National Park Service law enforcement Park Rangers work among the 391 national parks in the country, from the tropical waters of Hawaii and the Caribbean to the mountains of the Rockies to the wild places of Alaska. Our Park Ranger force of federal law enforcement officers helps protect America’s cherished parks as well as the visitors that come to experience them.

1. Where do National Park Rangers Work?
2. What do National Park Rangers do?
3. How do I become a National Park Ranger?
4. Are there any special requirements?
5. What opportunities exist for training and career advancement?
6. What benefits do National Park Ranger earn?

1. Where do National Park Rangers Work?

The National Park Service (NPS) has 1500 permanent full time law enforcement Park Rangers and 500 seasonal law enforcement Park Rangers working in parks throughout the country. One of the many advantages of an NPS law enforcement career is that you are allowed to choose where you want to work by applying for open positions throughout the diverse national park system, from sea to shining sea! While not every park has law enforcement jobs, most do and some have job openings today! Law enforcement Park Rangers work in conjunction with interpretive Park Rangers and other support staff in managing all aspects of park operations. Law enforcement Park Rangers may work in parks with only a few Park Rangers or in large parks with complex law enforcement operations involving dozens of Park Rangers.    

While permanent law enforcement employment opportunities always exist within the NPS, some geographic locations are more popular and therefore, positions are more competitive in those areas. Seasonal law enforcement employment opportunities are plentiful especially during the busy summer season between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Due to many national park locations with employment opportunities throughout the US, the choice of where you might work is up to you!

2. What do National Park Rangers do?

Many NPS Park Rangers are federal law enforcement officers! Performing the full spectrum of law enforcement activities, they protect our national parks by detecting and investigating criminal activity on federal lands and apprehending violators. Park Rangers perform traditional community policing, enforce traffic laws on our highways, patrol campgrounds and hotel areas, and work in wilderness areas, on lakes, rivers or in the mountains, keeping park resources and park visitors safe. And that’s just the beginning! Many Park Rangers also have expertise in emergency medical services, search and rescue, and fire fighting. The diversity of our 391 national parks requires unique specialties that make our Park Rangers’ jobs unique as well.

3. How do I become a National Park Ranger?

Basic requirements:

• Must be a US Citizen
• Meet agency medical standards
• Pass physical fitness standards
• Complete a background investigation (drug/alcohol free with no criminal history)
• Minimum age of 21 required for law enforcement positions

Seasonal Law Enforcement Park Ranger Opportunities:

Each year, the NPS hires over 500 seasonal Park Rangers to perform law enforcement during the busy summer tourist season. Seasonal employees are hired at a variety of parks throughout the country. Law enforcement jobs require that you are 21 years of age and complete a 334 hour Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program at one of nine colleges that offer these programs full time during a single semester or in conjunction with degree programs. Positions are full-performance law enforcement jobs performing the full spectrum of law enforcement duties and responsibilities. Summer seasonal positions are usually announced in December and January on USAJOBS.

Permanent Law Enforcement Park Ranger Opportunities:

There are several avenues to permanent employment as a law enforcement Park Ranger. Many Park Rangers begin their careers as seasonal law enforcement Park Rangers and are then hired as permanent Park Rangers after establishing their skills with several seasons of seasonal employment. Some Park Rangers are hired to permanent law enforcement positions without previous NPS law enforcement experience. These jobs are frequently located in geographic areas where the NPS has experienced difficulty in recruiting, such as urban areas or along the Southwest Border. Another common path to permanent employment is through an NPS student educational employment program that allows qualified students to gain work experience while attending school. Students that successfully complete these programs are transitioned into permanent positions upon completion of their education.  

4. Are there any special requirements?

The National Park Service offers rewarding careers for people interested in a diverse outdoor lifestyle and career path. We are always looking for applicants with backgrounds as diverse as our national parks. Those with an urban upbringing might choose to work in urban parks. Those applicants with an interest in American history might choose to work in one of our many battlefield or historical parks while those with outdoor backgrounds, such as Scouting, or who love outdoor activities such as camping, hunting or fishing might prefer to work in one of our wild parks. The important requirement is that you have an interest in protecting America’s natural and cultural heritage that makes our national parks special and unique. The strengths of our Park Rangers lie in their diverse skills, which extend far beyond traditional law enforcement jobs.

We require a high school diploma or equivalent certification. Although not required, employees with college degrees may have greater career opportunities. Applicants for permanent law enforcement positions must be not older than 37 years of age, while applicants for seasonal positions may be any age over 21 years.  

5. What opportunities exist for training and career advancement?

Permanent Park Ranger jobs begin with 18 weeks of comprehensive law enforcement training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Georgia. NPS FLETC training consists of classroom training in many subjects including criminal law, ethics, and law enforcement techniques. Practical classes cover subjects including arrest techniques and boat and vehicle operations. A high speed driving track lets students test their skills. Daily physical fitness and shooting skills are also emphasized. NPS FLETC training is immediately followed by an 11 week field training assignment in a national park where students will perform law enforcement duties under the guidance of an instructor/trainer. The NPS FLETC and practical field training programs are some of the best available in federal law enforcement!

An NPS career also includes a lifetime of exciting training opportunities! Park Rangers receive basic and advanced training in subjects specific to individual parks. This training might include emergency medical training, boat training, structural and wildland firefighting, search and rescue, helicopter operations, horsemanship, wilderness operations and much more! 

Career opportunities with salary increases exist for upwardly mobile Park Rangers willing to take on supervisory responsibilities as they are promoted. Park Rangers willing to transfer to other parks throughout the country will generally have the greatest opportunities for promotion.

6. What benefits do National Park Rangers earn?

Starting salary for seasonal law enforcement Park Rangers is $17.56/hour ($36,658/year) but can increase to $19.99/hour ($41,729/year) after the first season. Permanent law enforcement Park Rangers usually start at $41,729 which will increase to $46,542 upon completion of training. Cost of living adjustments for certain areas of the US will increase the salary. Park Rangers also receive premium pay for working overtime, nights, Sundays and holidays. 
    
Whether you’re interested in working a three-month summer seasonal job or a career, you can work in the national parks and make it your life’s work if you choose.  In addition to the rewarding career of protecting our nation’s icons and working in natural areas, the benefits of a National Park Service career are numerous and include the following:

• Fun job
• Adventure!
• Work for a leading conservation agency
• Live and work in beautiful, scenic places
• Serve America
• Do interesting and meaningful work
• Federal law enforcement officer salary
• Comprehensive life and health insurance*
• Family friendly work policies
• Leave sharing program*
• Tuition assistance available*
• Great retirement benefits, including the Thrift Savings Plan (401K)*
• Excellent vacation and sick leave benefits
• Flexible work schedules
• Flexible workplace opportunities including the ability to choose where you want to work  -- nationwide!
• Transit benefits available
• Government housing available in many parks
• Outstanding training opportunities including FLETC

*Our seasonal jobs due not include some of the benefits available to permanent employees

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