Employers

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that there are 32,900 conservation scientists, including range mangers, employed in the United States. The majority of range managers are employed by the federal government in the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), or the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). State governments employ range managers in game and fish departments, state land agencies, and extension services.

In private industry, the number of range managers is increasing. They work for coal and oil companies to help reclaim mined areas, for banks and real estate firms to help increase the revenue from landholdings, and for private consulting firms and large ranches. Some range managers with advanced degrees teach and do research at colleges and universities. Others work overseas with U.S. and United Nations agencies and with foreign governments.

Starting Out

The usual way to enter this occupation is to apply directly to the appropriate government agencies. People interested in working for the federal government may contact the Department of Agriculture's Forest Service or the NRCS, or the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs or the BLM. Others may apply to local state employment offices for jobs in state land agencies, game and fish departments, or agricultural extension services. Your school's career services office should have listings of available jobs.

Range managers may advance to administrative positions in which they plan and supervise the work of others and write reports. Others may go into teaching or research. An advanced degree is often necessary for the higher-level jobs in this field. Another way for range managers to advance is to enter business for themselves as range management consultants or ranchers.

Read Rangeland Ecology & Management (https://www.journals.elsevier.com/rangeland-ecology-and-management) and Rangelands (https://www.journals.elsevier.com/rangelands) to learn more about the field.

Visit https://www.usajobs.gov for job opportunities with the federal government.

Participate in range management internships or part-time jobs that are arranged by your college’s career services office.