How to become a Range Manager
Official title: Range Managers
Also called: Conservationist, Forest Range Program Manager, Land Management Supervisor, Natural Resource Manager, Natural Resource Specialist, Range Management Consultant, Range Management Specialist, Rangeland Management Specialist, Wildlife Manager, Wildlife Refuge Manager
Research or study range land management practices to provide sustained production of forage, livestock, and wildlife.
Main tasks
- 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.
How to become one
Conservation scientists and foresters typically need a bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resources, or a related field.
Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- College: Business & Commerce degrees, Offered by 35 universities in the US
- College: Agriculture & Environment degrees, Offered by 26 universities in the US
- Licence: A licence is required in 10 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $73,010 a year The middle half earn $57,700 to $91,560.
- About 27,700 people work in this job now, and about 29,200 are projected by 2035. (+5.3%)
- People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Range Manager?
Conservation scientists and foresters typically need a bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resources, or a related field.
How much does a Range Manager earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $73,010 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $57,700 to $91,560.
Is a Range Manager a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 27,700 to about 29,200 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Range Manager?
Usually. 100% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of a Range Manager?
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.