National Park Service Seasonal (via USAJOBS)
National Park Service, US Department of the Interior
Pays you
$17–$22/hr
Band shown is GS-5 base for 2026 ($34,799 to $45,239 annually, roughly $16.67-$21.68/hr), before locality pay which adds meaningfully in most park locations. Entry seasonals are frequently hired at GS-3 or GS-4 and earn less than this band; GS-5 typically requires relevant coursework or experience. THE CRITICAL DEDUCTION: ALL NPS EMPLOYEES LIVING IN PARK HOUSING PAY RENT AND UTILITIES, commonly by automatic payroll deduction, and the rate is set by a market-comparability formula rather than being a nominal fee like the concessioners charge. This is the single biggest difference between an NPS seasonal job and an Aramark or Delaware North job in the same park — the concessioner may charge under $20 a week while the government charges something closer to real rent. Some parks have no housing at all, leaving you to find a room in a gateway town. Meals are never provided. Overtime is available in peak season for some roles. Not directly sourceable — depends entirely on the park's quarters rent, which varies by unit and must be asked about specifically. A GS-4/5 seasonal paying real quarters rent can net less than a concessioner employee earning a lower hourly wage in the same park.
$150–$1,000 upfront to start
Federal seasonal appointments as interpretive rangers, visitor use assistants, trail crew, fee collectors and maintenance staff, hired through USAJOBS on a fixed October-to-February application cycle. Park housing is often available but is rented, not free — unlike the concessioner jobs in the same parks.
- Term
- 3 mo–9 mo
- Housing
- Not provided
- Airfare
- Not covered
- Selectivity
- Selective
- Age
- 18+
- Citizenship
- U.S. citizen
Deadlines
- 2027 summer seasonopensRolling / no fixed deadline
The NPS generally accepts applications for summer positions between OCTOBER AND FEBRUARY for seasons running March through September — miss that window and there is no second chance for the summer. Search 'National Park Service' on USAJOBS and filter Work Type to Temporary. Up to 1,560 NPS seasonal positions in 2026 were nine-month appointments with the remainder mostly six-month.
Verified 9/14/2026 · www.nps.gov