State Park Naturalist pay range
Commonwealth of Kentucky · class code 20000566
- Class code
- 20000566
- Pay grade
- 16
- Pay unit
- Month
- Alternate ranges
- 3
- State
- Kentucky
- The Commonwealth of Kentucky published pay range for State Park Naturalist is $4,444 to $7,110 per month, spanning every alternate range the plan defines.
- Kentucky publishes an entry rate and a midpoint for each pay grade, not a maximum, so the upper figure on this page is the grade midpoint.
- That works out to about $53,329 to $85,326 a year at full time.
- Kentucky Personnel Cabinet keys this classification as class code 20000566.
- The plan defines 3 alternate ranges for this class, so the rate depends on which criteria an employee meets.
- This is the range the plan authorises, not the salary of any individual employee.
Alternate ranges
| Range | Entry | Midpoint | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Range 37.5-hour week | $4,444 | $6,666 | per month |
| Range 40-hour week | $4,740 | $7,110 | per month |
| Range Hourly | $27.35 | $41.02 | per hour |
Which alternate range applies is set by the plan's own criteria (experience, certification or assignment). The criteria text lives in the source document.
Class specification
The Personnel Cabinet class specification for this class is published by Kentucky Personnel Cabinet. The passages below are quoted from it as published, not paraphrased, and cut to their opening sentences; the full specification is the authority on duties and qualifications. It was last revised 10/16/2023.
What the state says the job is
Coordinates the Department of Parks' interpretative programs, including natural and historical interpretation, outdoor recreation and environmental education. Coordinates with parks program services personnel and park managers in the programs that emphasize the natural, cultural, historical, and recreational attractions of the state parks. Oversees the Department's trail and land acquisition programs.; and performs other duties as assigned.
Examples of the work
Coordinates with parks program services staff the programs to feature the natural, scenic, and recreational attractions of state parks. Directs the Department on management practices to ensure proper utilization and care of natural resources. Develops and conducts programs which promote state park attractions. Drafts text and develops themes for interpretive exhibits and trains parks' staff in the presentation of programs, trails management, resource management, environmental education, and outdoor skills development. Provides overall planning, design, and technical assistance for the development and maintenance of park trails and scenic attractions.
Minimum qualifications
EDUCATION: Graduate of a college or university with a bachelor's degree in outdoor recreation, park resource interpretation, environmental education, biology, forestry, botany, zoology or a related natural science. EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, OR SKILLS: Five years of experience as a park naturalist, park interpreter, environmental educator, or in planned outdoor recreation. Substitute EDUCATION for EXPERIENCE: A master's degree in outdoor recreation, park resource interpretation, environmental education, biology, forestry, botany, zoology, or a related natural science will substitute for one year of the experience. Substitute EXPERIENCE for EDUCATION: Experience as a park naturalist, park interpreter, environmental educator, or in planned outdoor recreation will substitute for the required college on a year-for-year basis.
Quoted from the Personnel Cabinet class specification, read 2026-10-21.
Where this comes from
Kentucky Personnel Cabinet publishes this figure in Classified and Unclassified 37.5 and 40-Hour Salary Schedule, effective September 16, 2026. Every number on this page is read from that document; nothing is estimated, modelled or averaged.
Job titles and their pay grades come from the Job Specification Search, joined to the salary schedule.