Range Managers
Research or study range land management practices to provide sustained production of forage, livestock, and wildlife.
Also called: Conservationist, Forest Range Program Manager, Forestry and Wildlife Manager, Land Management Supervisor, Natural Resource Management Specialist, Natural Resource Manager
Median pay
$73,010
Pay for the broader BLS group “Conservation Scientists”
Pay range (10th–90th)
$47,550 – $110,410
People employed
25,950
Whole BLS group
Holland code
RIE
Realistic · Investigative · Enterprising
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
- 2.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 3.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 4.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
The hard parts
- Work outdoors in all weather
Range Managers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, for the broader group “Conservation Scientists”.
What range managers do
- 01Tailor conservation plans to landowners' goals, such as livestock support, wildlife, or recreation.
- 02Study grazing patterns to determine number and kind of livestock that can be most profitably grazed and to determine the best grazing seasons.
- 03Maintain soil stability and vegetation for non-grazing uses, such as wildlife habitats and outdoor recreation.
- 04Manage forage resources through fire, herbicide use, or revegetation to maintain a sustainable yield from the land.
- 05Mediate agreements among rangeland users and preservationists as to appropriate land use and management.
- 06Study rangeland management practices and research range problems to provide sustained production of forage, livestock, and wildlife.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Writing
Knowledge
- Biology
- English Language
- Law and Government
- Geography
- Customer and Personal Service
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Integrity
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from range managers
- Environmental Restoration Planners85% · group pay
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health84% · —
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers81% · group pay
- Water Resource Specialists77% · group pay
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health75% · —
Change into range managers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Environmental Restoration Planners87% · $82,220
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health80% · $82,220
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers77% · $141,900
- Fish and Game Wardens77% · $74,060
- Water Resource Specialists77% · $167,220
Majors that lead here
- Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture
- Range Science and Management
- Natural Resources/Conservation, General
- Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, General
- Water, Wetlands, and Marine Resources Management
- Land Use Planning and Management/Development
- Forestry, General
- Forest Sciences and Biology
- Forest Management/Forest Resources Management
- Wildlife, Fish and Wildlands Science and Management
- Ecology
- Environmental Biology
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.