Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, Iowa
$74,000 / year
≈ $6,150 per month · $35.58 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for Iowa · median $71,500
25th percentile
$62,000Average
$74,00075th percentile
$84,500
$62,000Average
$74,00075th percentile
$84,500
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (occupation group), with detailed role definition from O*NET, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Park Naturalist salary by state
Alabama$83,500
Alaska$92,000
Arizona$74,000
Arkansas$80,500
California$91,000
Colorado$92,500
Connecticut$84,000
Delaware$69,000
District of Columbia$102,500
Florida$64,000
Georgia$84,000
Hawaii$79,000
Idaho$79,000
Illinois$78,500
Indiana$71,500
Iowa$74,000
Kansas$75,500
Kentucky$77,500
Louisiana$85,000
Maine$80,000
Maryland$93,000
Massachusetts$85,500
Michigan$76,500
Minnesota$77,000
Mississippi$69,500
Missouri$69,500
Montana$79,000
Nebraska$80,500
Nevada$75,000
New Hampshire$77,000
New Jersey$72,000
New Mexico$82,000
New York$83,500
North Carolina$74,500
North Dakota$82,500
Ohio$69,000
Oklahoma$74,500
Oregon$92,500
Pennsylvania$66,000
Rhode Island$95,500
South Carolina$62,500
South Dakota$78,500
Tennessee$78,000
Texas$73,500
Utah$83,500
Vermont$76,500
Virginia$96,000
Washington$84,000
West Virginia$78,000
Wisconsin$80,500
Wyoming$81,500
Total cash compensation
Base salary plus target bonus using the Grahall equation. Bonus is a function of base; higher base means a higher target bonus.
Base salary
$80,000
National baseline
Target bonus
$9,000
11.5% of base
Total target cash
$89,000
Base plus target bonus
Bonus range (25th to 75th percentile): $5,500 to $14,500
Long-term incentive (LTI) varies by industry and executive tier and is not included in this view.
About this role
Park Naturalist is a professional role within the function in the Life, Physical, and Social Science job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Park Naturalists do
Typical education: Bachelor's Degree
- Provide visitor services, such as explaining regulations, answering visitor requests, needs and complaints, and providing information about the park and surrounding areas.
- Assist with operations of general facilities, such as visitor centers.
- Confer with park staff to determine subjects and schedules for park programs.
- Conduct field trips to point out scientific, historic, and natural features of parks, forests, historic sites, or other attractions.
- Plan and organize public events at the park.
Top skills: Speaking Reading Comprehension Active Listening Writing Social Perceptiveness Critical Thinking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Park Naturalist pay by experience level
Entry level$49,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$59,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$75,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$95,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$114,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+3.4%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
2,500
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Park Naturalist salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
17,530 workers
$80,500Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
6,970 workers
$96,000Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
5,720 workers
$69,500Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations
5,360 workers
$76,500Social Advocacy Organizations
5,190 workers
$76,000State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
4,830 workers
$72,000Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
1,430 workers
$84,000Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
1,060 workers
$81,500Educational Services
840 workers
$80,500Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
800 workers
$81,000National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Park Naturalist pays 20% below the average across 66 roles in the Life, Physical, and Social Science job family (family average $100,500).
Similar-paying roles in Life, Physical, and Social Science
Conservation Scientist$80,000
Forensic Science Technician$82,000
Survey Researcher$82,500
Historian$84,000
Hydrologic Technician$72,000
Soil and Plant Scientists$91,000
Careers related to Park Naturalist
Industrial Ecologist$95,000
Soil and Plant Scientists$91,000
Natural Sciences Manager$186,500
Compliance Manager$159,500
Environmental Engineer$117,000
Forester$82,000
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Park Naturalist make?
The average base salary for a Park Naturalist in the United States is $80,000 per year, or about $38.46 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $59,500 and $95,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Life, Physical, and Social Science roles?
The Life, Physical, and Social Science job family averages $100,500 across 66 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
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