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- Requirements to Become a Park Ranger in California
- Park Ranger Duties in California
- State Parks in California
- 1 College of the Desert
- Schools Summary Table
- Park Ranger Salary in California
- Find Park Ranger Career Guides by State
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the most popular parks in California?
- What is the largest state park in California?
- How long does it take to become a Park Ranger in California?
- Are California Park Rangers trained firefighters?
- Is equestrian overnight camping offered at California State Parks?
- How does the pay for Park Rangers in California compare to other states?
- How much of the California coast is part of a state park?
California is nine hundred miles from Oregon to the Mexican Border.
About a third of that magnificent coastline is part of the California Parks Department.
California employs many Park Rangers to maintain the 280 parks that traverse the state.
It is the largest state park system in the country.
If you are looking for one of the most exciting and fulfilling jobs in California, consider becoming a Park Ranger.
Requirements to Become a Park Ranger in California
- All applicants must be at least 21 years of age and a maximum of 65 years old.
- Must have a valid California driver’s license with no recent suspensions.
- Must have a high school diploma or a GED.
- Must have applied for US citizenship within three years of becoming a ranger.
- Have no felony convictions or other convictions that might prohibit you from possessing a firearm.
- Complete the P.O.S.T. Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery with a score of 42 or more.
- Complete the Pre-Law Enforcement Academy Physical Training Test: 1.5-mile run in 15 minutes or less.
- Must pass a background check.
- Attend the seven-month academy.
Park Ranger Duties in California
- Operating and managing state parks
- Protecting the resources of the parks
- Providing Interpretation of the resources
- Program management activities
- Patrolling the park where they are working
- Emergency response and law enforcement
- Conduct administrative and criminal investigations
- Write reports
- Issue citations
- Make arrests when necessary
- Perform search and rescue activities
- Provide emergency medical response
- Ensure public safety
- Being proactive in providing assistance
- Much more as needed
State Parks in California
Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument
Located on Highway 1 about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, high above the ocean, sits Hearts Castle.
Built by newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, construction began in 1929 and continued for 30 years.
It was an impressive sight then and still is.
The main house has 115 rooms surrounded by eight acres of outstanding gardens.
Guests take a bus from down below to visit the house and gardens.
Three-hour-long tours are offered.
Many guests choose to take more than one.
San Simeon State Park is the only park with a K-9 Park Ranger assigned to protect the art collection.
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
Start your visit to the park with a tour of the visitor center and museum.
Guided tours of Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park are offered at least twice daily.
It is a walking tour that takes 45 minutes.
The park features buildings that have survived from the Gold Rush era.
It tells the history leading up to the discovery of gold.
Visitors can also take a lesson in how to pan for gold and then take a stab at it themselves.
The park offers a Junior Ranger Program.
Emerald Bay State Park
The park is north (12 miles) of South Lake Tahoe.
Dogs are not allowed in most areas of Emerald Bay Park.
Two campgrounds are located within the park.
One is a boat-in park.
The park features Vikingsholm, one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the Western Hemisphere.
The “Tea House” on Fannette Island, in the park, is the only island to be found in all of Lake Tahoe.
Many boats and barges are underwater in Emerald Bay.
It was designated an underwater state park in 1994.
The beach is not accessible from land, only from the water.
Humboldt Redwoods State Park
Humboldt Redwoods State Park is 53,000 acres.
The park has 17,000 acres of old-growth redwood trees.
It is located 228 miles north of San Francisco in Weott, CA.
It is not uncommon for there to be a 30-degree temperature difference between the north and south of the park.
Humboldt Redwoods State Park offers a variety of camping options with more than 250 family camp sites.
No RV hookups or dump stations are offered.
Humboldt Redwoods State Park provides summer programs in the park, including guided walks and campfire programs.
Walking, hiking, boating, fishing, and swimming are all favorite activities.
Program: Wildlife Forestry and Conservation Career Diploma
Program Details:- Study online at your own pace
- Earn a career diploma in as little as 4 months*
- Budget-friendly tuition with personalized payment options
- Nationally accredited program
- Guidance from experienced instructors
1 College of the Desert
College of the Desert offers a Field Ranger Certificate program.
This is a 24-credit course.
This prepares students for work in state, national, or tribal ranger work.
Contact Information
- Address: 43500 Monterey Ave, Palm Desert, CA 92260, USA
- Phone: +1 760-346-8041
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | College of the Desert |
Park Ranger Salary in California
The salary for Park Rangers in California varies from area to area of the state.
The range is from about $33,000 at the lowest to about $69,000 at the high end.
The median range is $47,000 to $55,000.
As in all occupations, experience and education will affect your salary.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$41K |
|
$64K |
|
$99.8K |
Average Salary in California
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $64,069 |
| San Diego | $70,720 |
| San Jose | $119,935 |
| San Francisco | $146,884 |
| Fresno | $49,399 |
| Sacramento | $64,344 |
| Long Beach | $59,100 |
| Oakland | $90,875 |
| Bakersfield | $79,579 |
| Anaheim | $56,860 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 310 | $43,730 | $21.02 | $43,680 | $43,680 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 160 | $43,080 | $20.71 | $43,680 | $43,680 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 100 | $43,190 | $20.77 | $43,680 | $43,680 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 270 | $43,010 | $20.68 | $43,680 | $36,400 |
| Salinas, CA | 30 | $48,140 | $23.15 | $71,050 | $43,680 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Find Park Ranger Career Guides by State
- AL Alabama
- AK Alaska
- AZ Arizona
- AR Arkansas
- CA California
- CO Colorado
- CT Connecticut
- DE Delaware
- FL Florida
- GA Georgia
- HI Hawaii
- ID Idaho
- IL Illinois
- IN Indiana
- IA Iowa
- KS Kansas
- KY Kentucky
- LA Louisiana
- ME Maine
- MD Maryland
- MA Massachusetts
- MI Michigan
- MN Minnesota
- MS Mississippi
- MO Missouri
- MT Montana
- NE Nebraska
- NV Nevada
- NH New Hampshire
- NJ New Jersey
- NM New Mexico
- NY New York
- NC North Carolina
- ND North Dakota
- OH Ohio
- OK Oklahoma
- OR Oregon
- PA Pennsylvania
- RI Rhode Island
- SC South Carolina
- SD South Dakota
- TN Tennessee
- TX Texas
- UT Utah
- VT Vermont
- VA Virginia
- WA Washington
- WV West Virginia
- WI Wisconsin
- WY Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most popular parks in California?
Yosemite is the most popular national park in California, with more than four million visitors a year.
Joshua Tree State Park is the second most popular, with more than 3.5 million.
What is the largest state park in California?
The largest state park in California is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park at 600,000 acres.
It is also the state park with the highest average summer temperature, reaching 120 degrees.
How long does it take to become a Park Ranger in California?
The minimum is two years and seven months.
The position requires a minimum of 60 credits from a state-accredited college.
Sixty credits are four semesters, which takes two years.
Must attend the seven-month-long academy.
Are California Park Rangers trained firefighters?
The Park Rangers are certified firefighters with training to fight fires.
California Park Rangers are sworn law enforcement officers.
Park Rangers are also trained in basic first aid.
Is equestrian overnight camping offered at California State Parks?
Eight of the California state parks offer either individual or group equestrian camping.
How does the pay for Park Rangers in California compare to other states?
The pay in California for Park Rangers is comparable to other states.
However, the cost of living in California is significantly higher than in many other states.
How much of the California coast is part of a state park?
About one-third of the coastline is part of a state park.
Some of the most beloved are:
- Torrey Pines in San Diego
- Crystal Cove State Park in Orange County
- Monterey State Beach in Monterey
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