How to Become a Park Ranger in Massachusetts

Keep your sights on the goal as you become a park ranger in Massachusetts with this handy guide.

It might take a couple of years to reach your target occupation, but within no time you can easily get employed as a state park ranger in MA.

Start with going to college once you turn 18, and make sure to study a field that is helpful for working in park stewardship.

This will send your career sailing in the right direction with a job at the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

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Requirements to Become a Park Ranger in Massachusetts

To be eligible to apply as a park ranger in Massachusetts, you need to cover a few basics.

Start by getting CPR/First Aid certified.

You will also need to be at least 18 and have a valid driver’s license.

Then, attend a public or private college to earn an associate’s degree.

Having two years of college with or without a degree will put you on the fast track to a job as an MA state park ranger.

However, you want to have a college education that is related to the job you have as a state park ranger.

Choose a field like Criminal Justice or Environmental Ecology to get the background you need to work in this area of expertise.

You will also be required to attend Seasonal Ranger Academy after you are hired as a park ranger for the state.

This is required even for a Ranger I, which is a full-time state park ranger.

Park Ranger Duties in Massachusetts

As a park ranger in Massachusetts, the standard duties start with tending to and managing the park grounds and facilities.

From there, park rangers are tasked with providing public information and educational programs.

This job also requires state park rangers in MA to deal with emergency situations involving the grounds, animals, and visitors, as well as natural disasters and other unexpected events.

Generally, park rangers work year-round.

There are also seasonal park ranger jobs that are typically made available in the busier summer months.

Park rangers at state parks tend to live onsite with housing provided by the park, or nearby in a state or government-run properties.

State Parks in Massachusetts

Bash Bish Falls State Park

Bash Bish Falls State Park located in Mt. Washington, MA is centered around Bash Bish Falls.

This is the state’s highest waterfall and it reaches 80 feet in height.

The gorge at Bash Bish Falls State Park is a naturally dramatic place to work as a state park ranger in Massachusetts.

Connecticut River Greenway State Park

Connecticut River Greenway State Park is in Northampton for folks who want to go fishing, boating, and hiking.

Here the Connecticut River converges into a greenway that is quite expansive.

Part of the state parks system, this greenway gives visitors an opportunity to relax and unwind in this New England state.

Lawrence Heritage State Park

Lawrence Heritage State Park in Lawrence, Massachusetts, was one of the first cities in the nation to be planned.

The Lawrence Heritage State Park Visitors Center is in an 1840s boarding house, adding to the mystique of this park’s history.

The Merrimack River swells next to the park, which has been visited by immigrant populations since the early 1900s.

Skinner State Park

Located in Hadley, MA, Skinner State Park is a great place to see nature as you take a hike, quite literally.

The Connecticut River Valley opens up here to views of overreaching Mt. Holyoke.

Take this state park by the reins as you become a state park ranger in Massachusetts.

Salary

The salary for state park rangers in Massachusetts ranges from Boston, MA, where park rangers earn between $38,247 and $55,985.

The average salary for Boston state park rangers is $46,269.

Regional Salary in Massachusetts

Park Ranger by State