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There are close to 40 state parks in Maine.
Park rangers in Maine, also known as forest rangers, are responsible for enforcing forestry, conservation, and environmental laws.
They ensure measures are in place to prevent the state’s outbreak of forest fires and investigate crimes relating to littering, open fires, illegal dumping, and unauthorized tree cutting.
Park rangers in Maine work in:
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Article Table of Contents
- 1 Popular Programs
- 2 Requirements for Becoming A Park Ranger In Maine
- 3 Park Ranger Duties In Maine
- 4 State Parks in Maine
- 4.1 Parks Under The National Park Service
- 4.2 Saint Croix IslandCalais:
- 4.3 Roosevelt Campobello – Lubec:
- 4.4 Appalachian Trail – Maine to Georgia:
- 4.5 Acadia National Park – Bar Harbor:
- 4.6 Maine Acadian Culture – St John Valley:
- 4.7 State Parks in Maine
- 4.8 Scarborough Beach State Park
- 4.9 Wolfes Neck
- 4.10 Baxter State Park
- 5 How Much Salary Do Park Rangers In Maine Earn?
- 6 Frequently Asked Questions
- 6.1 Are there risks in working as a park ranger in Maine?
- 6.2 Is there a difference between a park ranger and a forest ranger in Maine?
- 6.3 Can a physically challenged person work at a park range in Maine?
- 6.4 Are park rangers in Maine also firefighters?
- 6.5 Can out-of-state persons work as park rangers in Maine?
Popular Programs
- State parks of Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
- National parks in Maine
- State parks and Public Lands
Requirements for Becoming A Park Ranger In Maine
To qualify as a park ranger in Maine, one must meet the requirements applicable to state workers, be a U.S. citizen and have a valid driver’s license.
There are three ways in which education and experience requirements for applicants qualify:
- Have at least one year of experience in parks recreation areas, conservation, environmental science instruction, or other related fields.
- An applicant who has undertaken a minimum of 18 semesters of coursework on field-related park work
- Have a combination of relevant education and expertise
Park Ranger Duties In Maine
- Educating the public about conservation and facts about the area
- Customer service and guest handling
- Rescue operations for the injured and missing persons within the parks
- Fire fighting
- We are collecting park-related fees, including charges for hiring items.
- Advising visitors to the park
- Collecting and compiling environmental and wildlife data
- Tour guiding
State Parks in Maine
Parks Under The National Park Service
Saint Croix IslandCalais:
An international historic site, well-known to be the starting point of an expedition into North America by Pierre Dugas, a French explorer in 1604
Roosevelt Campobello – Lubec:
An international park named after the former president, his favorite summer vacation destination.
Appalachian Trail – Maine to Georgia:
It is a national scenic trail of 2184 miles beginning in Maine, snaking its way through the Appalachian Mountains.
Acadia National Park – Bar Harbor:
It is home to the tallest mountain along the U.S. Atlantic coast and second among the national parks with high numbers of visitors.
Maine Acadian Culture – St John Valley:
National Park Service supports the Maine Acadian Heritage Council, an association of Maine Acadians sharing language, beliefs, history, experience, and religion.
State Parks in Maine
Scarborough Beach State Park
Is a good site for swimming and kayaking, with a beautiful shore.
Wolfes Neck
A good place for nature walks near Freeport and is known for ospreys.
Baxter State Park
It’s among the most popular parks in Maine, home to the tallest mountain in the state, Mt. Katahdin.
The park has over 200 miles of hiking trails and over 200,000 acres, inhabiting a variety of wildlife.
A popular activity in the garden is white water rafting on the Penobscot River, and camping grounds are available within Baxter State Park.
Due to the park’s topography, becoming a park ranger in Baxter State Park in Maine requires further in-house training to cope with unique issues within Baxter Park.
How Much Salary Do Park Rangers In Maine Earn?
Park rangers in Maine work under the Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry and can also become park managers depending on the locality.
Information from the Bureau of Human Resources in the Department of Administration and Financial Services shows that park ranger salaries fall into eight categories per each level.
| Step | Park Ranger
$ |
Park Manager Level I
$ |
Park Manger
Level II $ |
Park Manager
Level II $ |
| 1 | 24,814.40 | 26,769.60 | 30,721.60 | 33,196.80 |
| 2 | 25,646.40 | 27,830.40 | 31,844.80 | 34,611.20 |
| 3 | 26,582.40 | 27,766.40 | 33,238.40 | 36,088 |
| 4 | 27,560 | 29,993.60 | 34,694.40 | 37,856 |
| 5 | 28,766.40 | 31,137..60 | 36,192 | 39,478.40 |
| 6 | 29,806.40 | 32,427.20 | 37,856 | 41,475.20 |
| 7 | 30,9992 | 33,779.20 | 39,353.60 | 43,118.40 |
| 8 | 32,219.20 | 35,131.20 | 40,913.60 | 44,824 |
Park rangers in Maine also work in other positions within the parks.
Below are such roles and their pay figures
Park rangers working as recreation workers earn between $23,120 – $32,310 annually, depending on their work location.
Park rangers working as Tour guides and Escorts earn an average wage of between $17,680 – $25,020, depending on the area.
Forest rangers working in Recreation Protective Service have an annual mean wage of between $17,640 and $21,570, varying with the park’s locality.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Portland | $40,134 |
| Lewiston | $39,723 |
| Bangor | $37,529 |
| South Portland | $40,134 |
| Auburn | $39,723 |
| Augusta | $38,421 |
| Biddeford | $39,942 |
| Saco | $40,052 |
| Westbrook | $40,134 |
| Windham | $40,107 |
Regional Salary in Maine
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland, ME | ** | $85,230 | $40.97 | $114,510 | $53,800 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there risks in working as a park ranger in Maine?
Park rangers working environment can pose risks ranging from wild animal attacks to handling rouge campers.
The training at Forest Ranger Academy accorded to successful applicants equips park rangers with the necessary skills to handle such situations.
Is there a difference between a park ranger and a forest ranger in Maine?
The two job titles are used interchangeably in Maine.
In some states, forest rangers are under different employers from park rangers, but in Maine, only one department employs persons working as rangers in the parks.
Can a physically challenged person work at a park range in Maine?
There are varying positions for park rangers to fill in the parks, including office roles that require expert skills like IT and front office, among others that persons with disabilities can fill.
Are park rangers in Maine also firefighters?
The annual refresher courses on the fire line and firefighting enable the forest rangers to guide and educate the public about the use of fire within the wild.
Bush fires are devastating and costly when they occur.
Forest fires destroy animals’ natural habitats and take many years to reclaim the land.
Can out-of-state persons work as park rangers in Maine?
Anyone eligible to work in the U.S. and has the requisite qualifications can apply for a job as a park ranger in Maine.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Wildlife Conservationist
Park Ranger by State