Natural Resources Management Salary — $37K/yr Avg at 2 Schools (2026)

Quick Facts: Natural Resources Management Training

Where it's offered

Natural Resources Management programs are offered at 2 schools across 2 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.

Earnings expectations

Graduates earn approximately $36,703/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.

Apprenticeship pathways

The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 24 registered apprenticeship pathways related to Natural Resources Management — earn-while-you-learn alternatives to traditional schooling. See apprenticeship.gov for the federal registry.

Program quality benchmark

Across the 2 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 59/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.

What Natural Resources Management Graduates Do

Your office could be a national forest, a protected coastline, or a major industrial site. As a graduate, you’ll likely start your career enforcing the policies that protect these resources. You might begin as a patrol officer or park ranger, operating a 4x4 vehicle to ensure public safety and enforce regulations across vast landscapes. Another common path is becoming a compliance officer, where you’ll conduct on-site inspections to ensure businesses adhere to environmental protection laws, reviewing permits and collecting samples.

Related Apprenticeships on Our Site

Some natural resources management careers can also be entered through a registered apprenticeship — earn wages from day one, debt-free training. We have dedicated trade hubs for these overlapping paths:

Firefighter

View apprenticeship hub →

Registered Apprenticeship Pathways

The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 24 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Natural Resources Management. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.

Apprenticeship	Training Hours	Type	Salary RangeSalary	Growth
Fire Apparatus Engineer RAPIDS 535	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$44K – $59,530 – $77K	3.4%
Fire Captain RAPIDS 576	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$72K – $92,430 – $116K	3.4%
Fire Engineer RAPIDS 541	2000 hrs ~1.0 yrs	Time	$44K – $59,530 – $77K	3.4%
Fire Fighter RAPIDS 195	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$44K – $59,530 – $77K	3.4%
Fire Fighter Diver RAPIDS 1092	7000 hrs ~3.5 yrs	Time	$44K – $59,530 – $77K	3.4%
Fire Fighter Paramedic RAPIDS 1091	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$44K – $59,530 – $77K	3.4%
Fire Fighter Specialist Wildland RAPIDS 544	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$44K – $59,530 – $77K	3.4%
Fire Fighter, Crash, Fire RAPIDS 192	2000 hrs ~1.0 yrs	Time	$44K – $59,530 – $77K	3.4%
Fire Medic RAPIDS 754	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$44K – $59,530 – $77K	3.4%
Fire Prevention Officer RAPIDS 1089	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$72K – $92,430 – $116K	3.4%
Fire Suppression Technician RAPIDS 1088	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$44K – $59,530 – $77K	3.4%
Fish & Game Warden (Gov Ser) RAPIDS 902	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$53K – $68,180 – $82K	-6.0%
Health Information Management Privacy And Security Officer RAPIDS 2073CB	Competency	Competency	$100K – $136,550 – $179K	4.5%
Inspector, Quality Assurance RAPIDS 992	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$59K – $78,420 – $105K	3.0%
Inspector, Quality Assurance (Alternate Title: Quality Management Professional) RAPIDS 0992CB	Competency	Competency	$59K – $78,420 – $105K	3.0%
Master Homeland Security Specialist RAPIDS 2003	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$59K – $76,290 – $97K	3.1%
Military Equal Opportunity (Military Only) RAPIDS 1077CB	Competency	Competency	$59K – $78,420 – $105K	3.0%
Police Officer (Alternate Title: Military Police) RAPIDS 437	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$59K – $76,290 – $97K	3.1%
Protective Service Specialist (Active Duty Military) RAPIDS 2008	2000 hrs ~1.0 yrs	Time	$59K – $76,290 – $97K	3.1%
Regulatory Affairs Specialist RAPIDS 2062HY	3000-4000 hrs	Hybrid	$59K – $78,420 – $105K	3.0%
Security Specialist (Alternate Title: Physical Security Specialist) RAPIDS 1137R	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$59K – $76,290 – $97K	3.1%
Soil Conservation Technician RAPIDS 450	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$53K – $67,950 – $88K	3.4%
Wildland Fire Fighter Specialist RAPIDS 0544HY	3000 hrs ~1.5 yrs	Hybrid	$44K – $59,530 – $77K	3.4%
Working Dog Handler RAPIDS 2023	2500 hrs ~1.2 yrs	Time	$59K – $76,290 – $97K	3.1%

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.

Find Natural Resources Management Programs in Your State

Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Natural Resources Management is offered at 2 schools across 2 states. Click your state to see all trade programs offered locally.

Minnesota (1) Ohio (1)

Top Natural Resources Management Programs Nationally

For context, here are the highest-scoring Natural Resources Management programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.

2 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.

#	School	Score	Earnings	ROI
1	Minnesota North College Hibbing, MN	81 74–83	$45,589/yr	102.6x
2	Hocking College Nelsonville, OH	60 52–63	$27,817/yr	41.1x

Highest Earning Natural Resources Management Programs

Schools where Natural Resources Management graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School	1-Year Earnings	Score
Minnesota North College	$45,589/yr	81
Hocking College	$27,817/yr	60

Best ROI for Natural Resources Management

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Natural Resources Management.

School	ROI Multiple	Earnings	Score
Minnesota North College	102.6x	$45,589/yr	81
Hocking College	41.1x	$27,817/yr	60

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Considering a 4-Year Degree?

Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Natural Resources Management degree programs stack up on earnings and ROI.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the typical salary after a Natural Resources Management program?

The median first-year salary across 2 Natural Resources Management programs is $36,703. School selection matters — the gap between the lowest ($27,817) and highest ($45,589) earning programs is significant.

How safe is Natural Resources Management from automation and AI?

Natural Resources Management is rated "Resilient" for AI resilience — 56% of job tasks involve hands-on work shielded from AI automation. That means most career tasks in this field rely on skills AI cannot replicate.

Which school has the best Natural Resources Management program?

Minnesota North College leads all 2 programs with a TradeSchoolOutlook Score of 81/100. Graduates earn $45,589/yr — the ranking weighs earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size equally.

Is Natural Resources Management worth it?

The average 10-year earnings multiple is 71.9x tuition. This is a strong return on investment. The spread between the best and worst programs is wide, so individual school selection has a major impact.