Categories: Lifestyle

B.C. is hiring seasonal park rangers and the pay starts at $30 an hour

Photo via @yourbcparks / Instagram

Always dreamed of working at one of B.C.’s many provincial parks and helping to steward the beautiful land we live on? Park rangers have the opportunity to do exactly that, and BC Parks is currently hiring.

Auxiliary park rangers are responsible for supporting the B.C. park system and ensuring each park is accessible, while also protecting the wildlife that calls the area home. Ultimately, they uphold park values by acting as the face that park visitors and contractors expect to see.

What do park rangers do?

BC Parks says the position entails a wide range of “diverse and adventurous roles,” including constructing new trails, enforcing park regulations, responding to emergencies, managing park priorities, and performing daily maintenance. The latter includes regular repair, renovation, and cleaning of park facilities.

“You may also be involved in monitoring and reporting on assigned recreation, conservation and extension services and activities within a park or group of parks,” BC Parks adds on its website. “Dedicated to protecting park visitors and resources, you act as a Peace Officer to enforce compliance with the Park Act and other statutes and regulations.”

Hours, salary, and benefits

Park rangers report to Senior Park Rangers, working seasonally between April and November every year. On average, the position is 35 hours a week, including some evenings and weekends. The role also entails overnight stays in tents, remote cabins, and vessels.

As per the BCGEU salary grid, seasonal park rangers start at $56,018.94 annually, which translates to $4,668.25 monthly or just over $30 an hour.

As for benefits, auxiliary employees who have completed 1,827 hours of work in 33 pay periods with the same ministry are eligible for the following:

Extended health and dental benefits
Employee Basic Life Insurance plan
Optional medical travel insurance
Out-of-country non-emergency coverage

How to become a park ranger

BC Parks has a handful of requirements for incoming park rangers, but those who don’t meet every single point below are still encouraged to apply.

Here’s what BC Parks is currently looking for from applicants:

BC Parks Law and its Administration (BCIT PRKS1010)
Firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL)
Class 5 driver’s licence
Experience using chainsaws and brush cutters, boats, off-road vehicles, and other equipment
Experience taking multi-day backcountry or marine trips
Experience managing the public and working with diverse partner agencies, volunteer groups, and other stakeholders

It also doesn’t hurt to have experience in public relations or communications, safety and enforcement, facility and resource management, and wilderness survival training, among other nice-to-haves.

Ready to apply? You’ve got until 11 p.m. on Jan. 12, 2026, to get your applications in.

Note that all opportunities with BC Parks are posted on the B.C. government job postings website and follow the provincial government’s hiring process, which entails creating a Recruitment Management System account, submitting your resume and cover letter, and possibly answering a questionnaire.

Good luck!

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