GS-5 seasonal positions are no longer viable

$18.96 an hour, EMT cert required that you've gotta pay for yourself, years of grinding AmeriCorps or whatever to even qualify. Four seasons before you can even apply for the still low paying perm positions. Meanwhile the grocery store down the street from the park is starting all positions at $23/hour and McDonald's is starting all positions at $21/hour.

At what point do we stop debasing ourselves? I'm a seasonal ranger who loves the park service but year after year I see friends and coworkers abandoning their dream because it's just not financially viable.

Not to mention that WG-5s are starting at $22.18 to clean toilets and paint fences. Not saying they should get paid less, but it's a much easier job to get and honestly much easier most of the time. Also they actually get raises as seasonals. I've done both, currently in the WG side of things but was planning to go back to GS this year.

I'm going to get my RN like several rangers I know have done. This is my last season, I'm over it.