How much do Rangeland Managers make?

The median annual wage of conservation scientists was $59,310 in May 2010.

Entry level GS-5 jobs (Bachelor's level) typically start at $31,315 and advance rapidly with accumulated years of experience.

What is the job outlook for range managers?

Excellent! Although range management is a very small sector for the wide open spaces it covers, there are fewer qualified graduates than there will be jobs!

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there will be 1200 additional jobs for Conservation Scientists (not including foresters) between 2010 and 2020, or about 120 jobs per year.  (source:http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/conservation-sci...)

However, the National Center for Educational Statistics recorded only 107 Bachelors level Range Science and Management degrees awarded in the United States in 2010-2011.  (source: http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d12/tables/dt12_290.asp)

Where do rangeland managers work?

Most rangelands are located in the states west of the Mississippi river. Therefore, most rangeland jobs are located in western states. However, rangeland ecologists and managers are well versed in skills necessary to manage pasturelands and open forests, so jobs they are well suited for jobs in eastern states related to land management and agriculture. About 1/3 of conservation scientists work for the federal government. (See:http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/conservation-scientists.htm#tab-3)

If I have a degree in agriculture or biology, can I take classes to become a range manger?

The following link  spells out the courses need to qualify for the federal qualification standards for Rangeland Management Standards (GS – 0454) (http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/IORs/gs0400/0454.htm)

Consult the Colleges and Universities link on this website and check out the Range Science Education Council’s (RSEC) Distance Accessible Course List.