Life, Physical & Social Science
Range Managers
Also called: Conservationist, Forest Range Program Manager, Land Management Supervisor, Natural Resource Manager
US median pay
$73,010
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+5.3%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
2,100
27,700 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
Research or study range land management practices to provide sustained production of forage, livestock, and wildlife.
What they do day to day
- Tailor conservation plans to landowners' goals, such as livestock support, wildlife, or recreation.
- Study grazing patterns to determine number and kind of livestock that can be most profitably grazed and to determine the best grazing seasons.
- Maintain soil stability and vegetation for non-grazing uses, such as wildlife habitats and outdoor recreation.
- Manage forage resources through fire, herbicide use, or revegetation to maintain a sustainable yield from the land.
- Mediate agreements among rangeland users and preservationists as to appropriate land use and management.
- Study rangeland management practices and research range problems to provide sustained production of forage, livestock, and wildlife.
- Offer advice to rangeland users on water management, forage production methods, and control of brush.
- Coordinate with federal land managers and other agencies and organizations to manage and protect rangelands.
- Measure and assess vegetation resources for biological assessment companies, environmental impact statements, and rangeland monitoring programs.
- Plan and implement revegetation of disturbed sites.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Complex Problem Solving3.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8/5
- Systems Evaluation3.5/5
- Systems Analysis3.5/5
- Coordination3.2/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Service Orientation3.0/5
Knowledge
- Biology4.3/5
- English Language3.7/5
- Law and Government3.6/5
- Geography3.5/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.3/5
- Administration and Management3.2/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree75%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.