Oregon State Parks Begins Hiring of 200 Seasonal Rangers, Including the Coast

Published 03/06/25 at 6:35 p.m.
By Andre' GW Hagestedt, Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Salem, Oregon) – Oregon and its state parks are about to hire a rush of new park rangers: some 200 new positions from a variety of nature destinations, including the Oregon coast. (Above: Sunset Bay, courtesy Oregon's Adventure Coast)

Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) will be bringing on Rangers and Ranger Assistants for positions across the state for the 2025 season, with hiring starting as early as this month. Hiring will likely go into June, with new positions being added to the website on a rolling basis. These roles range in duration from four to nine months. While most seasonal staff are employed from April through September, some may start earlier this month or continue working as late as December.

There's a handful on the OPRD site right now. These include positions at Coos Bay's Sunset Bay, Newport's Beverly Beach, Warrenton's Fort Stevens State Park, Silver Falls, Lincoln City's Devils Lake, Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park in Florence, Cape Lookout State Park, Carl G. Washburne and South Beach at Newport.

South Beach - Oregon Coast Beach Connection

OPRD said seasonal employees play a key role in providing visitors with exceptional experiences while maintaining clean and safe park environments. Responsibilities include janitorial work, landscaping, visitor education, and customer service.

As other federal agencies are getting gutted of their integral park rangers (such as on the Washington coast), this comes as sizable positive news for a change. According to Oregon officials, it's estimated the area's state parks contribute around $1 billion a year to its economy, and they're some of the most visited in the U.S.

Rangers and park workers are essential to the state park experience.

Oregon Coast Hotels in this area - South Coast Hotels - Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours

Starting pay for seasonal assistants is $19.78 per hour, while seasonal rangers begin at $23.21 per hour. Both roles come with comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision plans for employees and eligible family members. Additional benefits include paid sick leave, vacation, personal leave, and 11 paid holidays annually. Student workers, aged 16 and above, earn $19.77 per hour or more, depending on experience.

The Cape Blanco Lighthouse at Cape Blanco State Park at Port Orford (courtesy Cape Blanco Historical Society).

Many of the current top leaders at Oregon State Parks, including all three Region Directors, began their careers as seasonal workers.

“We believe in nurturing leadership from within. We invest in our employees and offer clear paths for advancement, whether you're here for just a season or for your entire career,” said Director Lisa Sumption.

Cape Lookout - Oregon Coast Beach Connection

Seasonal staff gain valuable experience working alongside seasoned Rangers at parks throughout the state. Initial openings also include in the Columbia River Gorge, and in Eastern Oregon (including Wallowa Lake and Lake Owyhee).

To learn more about current openings, visit stateparks.oregon.gov. For questions or assistance with accessibility or alternative formats, email Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Recruiting at OPRD.Recruiting@oprd.oregon.gov.

ALSO SEE

Lincoln City Police Car Hit By Falling Tree in Central Oregon Coast Storm: Video - You can the tree leaning then tipping over. 1 other car involved

Sharks of Oregon Coast Featured on New License Plate: Vouchers Now Available - DMV needs 3,000 vouchers sold before it can happen

MORE PHOTOS BELOW

Courtesy Beachcomber Vacation Homes, Cannon Beach

More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging.....

More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining.....

Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles

Back to Oregon Coast

Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection
All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright © Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted