Environmental Jobs with No Degree! (National Parks, BLM, Forest Service & other Federal postings)

Get started on your environmental career without a college degree!

Let's talk about job requirements, pay, career paths, and benefits of the job! If you want to work for the National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Land Management, or any other land management agency you don’t actually need to have a college degree. This was information I wish I had when I was starting my job search and realizing that my passion was natural resources, environmental science, and just working outdoors. I was poor and swamped with work but still pushed ahead with college and had a lot of hard years and hope this information can help you be smarter than I was! I would have honestly been beside myself if I got one of these jobs at 20 years old.

Natural resources, environmental conservation, recreation, and wildland firefighting are all awesome job fields, that if you are built for can bring a happy and fruitful career. Good luck and let me know if this helps and anything else you need help with!

Time Stamps:
0:00 Intro
0:53 Range Technician
2:23 Guide/ Park Ranger
4:37 Forestry Technician/ Wildland Firefighter

Links:
Range Technician

Guide/Ranger

Forestry Technician/ Wildland Firefighter

GS Level Description:

[laxus]

As an introvert I loved the "oof. Good for you" part. Had me dying 😭😭

[Sammydx]

I tell everyone. I mean everyone. Jump to US Forestry. Best move I ever made. You literally can start going anything and in a few years let the government pay for school/training.
I started as a fence mending crew. But after a few years when I was 21 I moved into law enforcement. Then at 22 I was at Quantico training to be a Marshal.

[linty]

thank you for your environmental career videos! i feel like there is a major need for environmental career focused content.

[rallymurrah]

This video is truly a true Gem. I did an Internship with Fish and Wildlife and now I’m looking into being a ranger. Wish me luck

[ecologystorymode]

I appreciate everybody watching. Let me know about other cool jobs you've learned about that somebody entering the work force can look for!

[ChinaChuck]

Very informative video! I'm going to watch others. QUESTION: in 1986 I read an autobiography of a National Park Ranger that worked in a wide range of fields and parks. A great deal of the book covered stories of him catching poachers. The book made me get very close to pursuing a career with the National Parks. I've been hunting for the book for a few years and I wonder if someone here might have a lead. Drop a reply!

[sashanealand]

I was a seasonal park aid for 7 years, could never become a ranger because of the rampant nepotism practiced in hiring. Yes they are government jobs that are technically required to interview everyone for EEO reasons BUT rangers almost always hire new rangers from inside employees of the park system not outside AND its very cliquey, if you are not a favorite seasonal pet of a ranger that already works there you can forget ever getting hired. Parks only hire rangers pet seasonals for permenant jobs, if you are a bit different than most people already working there you can forget it

[bartleydalfonso]

I worked summer seasons for the National Park Service in two different western national parks (as a trail laborer and also as a campground laborer) with no college degree. But I could never advance into a Career Conditional status for one main reason: I was a not a military veteran, who by law had Preference Hiring.

[randyherman]

The fire jobs pay as much or less than the other jobs. The difference is number of hours. You also get 25% hazard pay if you are on an active fire. You could get 100 hrs in a week. If you’re a hotshot, you could go from fire to fire all summer+. If you are on an engine crew you could be pounding the ground 24hrs before going to 12 on/ off. Most fires are fought with shovels ( at least 25+ yrs ago).

[Swaeklee]

Landing even an entry level role in federal is like impossible. Always getting declined even when I will be taking a major pay cut to do something I would enjoy.

[henryofskalitz]

I'd rather not go to college because
1: the debt is to extreme even with debt relief programs
2: with almost 5 years of work experience you can get almost any well paying job other than one the need special schooling

[pappas]

Thank you I was set on becoming a park ranger but heard you need a bachelor's degree which seemed a bit much. I also heard you don't NEED one but it's preferred.

[smspight]

I would add: Research the opportunities coming from the American Conservation Experience. It is geared towards young people with an interest in everything he explained, and could help further develop your (future) career!

[masondicroce]

Hi, I just want to say that I really appreciate this video, I'm straight out of high school and would like to work in the forest service to some compacity. I'm taking a gap year right now to save for college to most likely get an environmental science degree, but as you laid it out maybe that's not necessary? Honestly all the jobs you listed in the video sound great, what do you think would be the best place to start to get into work in the service right now? What resources should I access, should I volunteer at any parks for job experience, what is the process to actually get these jobs, basically, what can I do to get my foot in the door?

[corytheviking]

Had not thought about wildland fire; I'm an RN who is burned out on the healthcare field, and owe a ton to my university for the pleasure; wanted to work in forestry but had next to nothing for requirements... BUT I do have tons of experience with offroad/hazardous weather driving, handtools and police work; so radios/dispatching and communication aren't new for me... I really need to find out who to chat with about what kind of fit I could get without having to get MORE school debt. Already in my 30's but waking up, loading a truck and driving out into the woods for a job sounds more like a vacation I get paid for - even if manual labor is involved! Just has to pay well enough to justify leaving nursing... So I will start digging! Thank you for the video, keep up the awesome work.

[ethanhutzler]

I hope I can get a law enforcement ranger job once I get out of the military. Hopefully veteran preference can save me.

[johnhicks]

Man that's the type of job I want for real no doubt about it.

[jenf]

“Which oof good for you” 😂 was thinking of changing from wildlife management and ecosystem sciences to forestry. Now I’m thinking I’ve already wasted a lot of money

[Roach]

Damn shame I can't even find a job similar in my province...
This shit sucks not being able to find a job that I want literally anywhere near me. I'd have to move across Canada again just for the chance

[johnhicks]

I have janitorial experience.& More to under my what people call their belts over the years growing up to. I've always wanted to get in the forestry department myself since I was young. I also know how to work on small engines.& Vehicles some to. Along with other things like helping with cutting.& Cleaning up with 🎄 falling.& Trimming & topping work to.