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29 Wildland Firefighter Jobs Open Now (including 3 entry level)

Right now there are 29 federal wildland fire jobs open, 3 of them entry level โ€” engine crews, hotshots, helitack, and forestry-tech roles. Here's what they pay and how to apply.

Last updated Wednesday, July 22nd at 5:00 p.m. CDT

See open jobs โ†“ Jobs by state When to apply

Wondering what these pay? See how much wildland firefighters make. Base plus overtime, hazard, and incident pay, by grade.

Looking for a fire lookout job? See our fire lookout jobs page.

Open Wildland Firefighter Jobs Right Now

29 open postings (job codes 0456 + 0462). Each posting can hire several people across multiple locations.

Entry-Level Wildland Firefighter Jobs

No experience needed โ€” 3 openings open to rookies right now.

Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Crew)

Whiteriver, Arizona · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

๐ŸŒฑ Entry level ยท no experience $48,424โ€“$62,955/yr GW-4 Apply by Jul 29

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$70Kโ€“$117K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Crew)

Whiteriver, Arizona · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

๐ŸŒฑ Entry level ยท no experience $44,112โ€“$57,351/yr GW-3 Apply by Jul 27

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$64Kโ€“$106K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Wildland Firefighter (Engine) - Direct Hire Authority

Porter, Indiana · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

๐ŸŒฑ Entry level ยท no experience $25.94โ€“$25.94/hr GW-4 Apply by Jul 22

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$41Kโ€“$86K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

๐Ÿ”ฅ Get new wildland fire jobs by email

The government posts new fire jobs most Mondays. Every Tuesday morning we email you the new ones, so you can apply first. 29 jobs are open right now.

One email a week. No spam, never shared. Unsubscribe anytime.

Experienced Wildland Firefighter Jobs

26 openings that ask for prior fire experience or a higher grade.

Wildland Firefighter

Saint Marys, Georgia · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$52,957โ€“$68,844/yr GW-5 Apply by Aug 4

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$76Kโ€“$128K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Engine Captain)

Multiple Locations · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$67,617โ€“$87,899/yr GW-8 Apply by Aug 4

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$97Kโ€“$163K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Engine Captain)

Multiple Locations · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$67,617โ€“$109,885/yr GW-8 Apply by Aug 3

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$111Kโ€“$186K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Wildland Firefighter (Engine) - Direct Hire Authority

Multiple Locations · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$57,670โ€“$81,343/yr GW-6โ€“7 Apply by Aug 3

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$87Kโ€“$146K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Wildland Firefighter (Wildland Fire Module) - Direct Hire Authority

California · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$62,570โ€“$81,343/yr GW-7 Apply by Aug 3

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$90Kโ€“$151K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Wildland Firefighter (Fire Dispatching)

Multiple Locations · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$57,670โ€“$81,343/yr GW-6โ€“7 Apply by Jul 31

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$87Kโ€“$146K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Fire Operations Specialist)

Multiple Locations · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$78,166โ€“$101,609/yr GW-10 Apply by Jul 30

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$113Kโ€“$188K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Wildland Firefighter (Prevention)

Oregon · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$83,639โ€“$108,738/yr GW-11 Apply by Jul 23

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$120Kโ€“$201K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Supervisory Wildland Firefighter

Whiteriver, Arizona · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$67,617โ€“$94,687/yr GW-8โ€“9 Apply by Aug 3

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$102Kโ€“$170K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Engine Captain)

Worland, Wyoming · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$67,617โ€“$87,899/yr GW-8 Apply by Jul 30

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$97Kโ€“$163K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Fire Helicopter Crew Supervisor

Utah · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$78,166โ€“$101,609/yr GW-10 Apply by Jul 31

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$113Kโ€“$188K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management)

Vale, Oregon · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$67,617โ€“$94,687/yr GW-8โ€“9 Apply by Jul 29

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$102Kโ€“$170K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Wildland Firefighter (Fuels)

Whiteriver, Arizona · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$52,957โ€“$68,844/yr GW-5 Apply by Jul 30

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$76Kโ€“$128K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

FORESTRY TECHNICIAN

Oregon · Bureau of Land Management

$40,736โ€“$65,599/yr GS-5โ€“7 Apply by Jul 29

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$67Kโ€“$111K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Forestry Technician (Cruiser/Appraiser)

Oregon · Bureau of Land Management

$61,722โ€“$80,423/yr GS-9 Apply by Jul 29

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$89Kโ€“$149K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Forestry Technician

Oregon · Bureau of Land Management

$50,460โ€“$80,243/yr GS-7โ€“9 Apply by Jul 29

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$82Kโ€“$137K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

FORESTRY TECHNICIAN

Oregon · Bureau of Land Management

$40,736โ€“$65,599/yr GS-5โ€“7 Apply by Jul 29

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$67Kโ€“$111K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Forestry Technician (Cruiser/Appraiser)

Oregon · Bureau of Land Management

$61,722โ€“$97,087/yr GS-9โ€“11 Apply by Jul 29

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$99Kโ€“$166K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Forestry Technician

Oregon · Bureau of Land Management

$50,460โ€“$80,243/yr GS-7โ€“9 Apply by Jul 29

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$82Kโ€“$137K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management)

Lewistown, Montana · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$83,639โ€“$108,738/yr GW-11 Apply by Jul 23

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$120Kโ€“$201K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Wildland Firefighter (Prevention)

Fort Washakie, Wyoming · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$72,832โ€“$94,687/yr GW-9 Apply by Jul 24

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$105Kโ€“$175K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Wildland Firefighter (Fire Dispatching)

Johnstown, Colorado · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$75,392โ€“$105,575/yr GW-8โ€“9 Apply by Jul 28

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$113Kโ€“$189K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Fire Dispatching GACC Manager

Salt Lake City, Utah · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$112,824โ€“$146,671/yr GW-13 Apply by Jul 24

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$162Kโ€“$272K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Wildland Fire Operations Technician)

California · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$78,166โ€“$101,609/yr GW-10 Apply by Oct 12

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$113Kโ€“$188K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Wildland Firefighter (Assistant Engine Captain)

California · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$57,670โ€“$94,830/yr GW-6โ€“7 Apply by Sep 20

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$95Kโ€“$160K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Engine Captain)

California · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$67,617โ€“$102,474/yr GW-8 Apply by Sep 17

๐Ÿ’ฐ ~$107Kโ€“$178K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

๐Ÿ”ฅ Get new wildland fire jobs by email

The government posts new fire jobs most Mondays. Every Tuesday morning we email you the new ones, so you can apply first. 29 jobs are open right now.

One email a week. No spam, never shared. Unsubscribe anytime.

Wildland Firefighter Jobs by State

Where federal wildland fire crews hire. Click a state to see which towns hire, what crews, how many entry-level spots a year, and when they post.

State Jobs since 2016 Entry-level Open now Entry-level open
California 3,214 787 6 โ€”
Idaho 2,573 761 โ€” โ€”
Oregon 2,347 606 10 โ€”
Arizona 2,001 706 5 2
Montana 1,994 629 1 โ€”
Colorado 1,939 601 3 โ€”
Wyoming 1,764 622 4 โ€”
New Mexico 1,716 555 2 โ€”
Washington 1,638 448 โ€” โ€”
Utah 1,610 451 2 โ€”
Nevada 1,320 390 โ€” โ€”
South Dakota 1,090 440 โ€” โ€”
Alaska 869 178 โ€” โ€”
Minnesota 631 228 โ€” โ€”
Florida 578 180 โ€” โ€”
Virginia 563 233 โ€” โ€”
Michigan 541 205 โ€” โ€”
Tennessee 522 178 โ€” โ€”
North Carolina 518 130 โ€” โ€”
Oklahoma 474 215 โ€” โ€”
Georgia 471 159 1 โ€”
Illinois 466 203 โ€” โ€”
Mississippi 457 143 โ€” โ€”
Texas 452 165 โ€” โ€”
Missouri 442 155 โ€” โ€”
Arkansas 437 185 โ€” โ€”
South Carolina 425 130 โ€” โ€”
Kentucky 408 107 โ€” โ€”
Wisconsin 407 162 โ€” โ€”
North Dakota 365 175 1 โ€”
Louisiana 364 118 โ€” โ€”
West Virginia 329 117 โ€” โ€”
Alabama 282 100 โ€” โ€”
Nebraska 280 125 โ€” โ€”
Pennsylvania 273 129 โ€” โ€”
Indiana 261 105 1 1
New Hampshire 232 95 โ€” โ€”
Ohio 231 91 โ€” โ€”
Vermont 172 69 โ€” โ€”
Kansas 133 69 โ€” โ€”

Counts from a decade of federal USAJOBS announcements. States with little wildland-fire hiring aren't listed.

New to this? Start here.

Federal job postings are full of codes and abbreviations. Here's the plain-English version so the table below makes sense.

"Series" = a job-type code
The government sorts every job into a numbered category called a series. Wildland fire jobs mostly live under series 0456 and 0462. Think of it like a job-board category.
GS vs. GW = the pay scale
GS (General Schedule) is the standard federal pay scale. GW is the newer, higher pay scale created just for wildland firefighters in 2024. A "GW" job pays more than the old "GS" equivalent.
The grade number (e.g. GW-4)
The number after the pay scale is the grade โ€” higher means more pay and responsibility. First-year firefighters with no experience usually start at GW-3, GW-4, or GW-5.
Hourly vs. salary
Most rookie fire jobs are seasonal/temporary and paid by the hour. Permanent jobs list an annual salary. Either way, overtime and hazard pay during fire season are extra โ€” often a big chunk of a season's earnings. For the full picture, see how much wildland firefighters make by grade.

Federal Fire Job Codes & What They Pay

Every federal fire-related series, how many jobs are open right now, and the pay range straight from today's postings. The top two rows (0456 and 0462) are the real wildland-firefighter jobs most rookies want.

Job code & name What it covers Open
now		 Hourly pay
(seasonal)		 Yearly salary
(permanent)
Series 0456 Wildland Fire Management The job code built just for wildland firefighters. Engine crews, hotshots, helitack, and fuels work all live here. 23 $25.94โ€“$25.94 $44,112โ€“$146,671
Series 0462 Forestry Technician The older fire job code. For years this is where most first-year hand crew and hotshot jobs were posted. 6 โ€” $40,736โ€“$97,087
Series 0401 Natural Resources & Biological Sciences Science-leaning roles โ€” biologists and prescribed-burn (planned fire) specialists. Only some are fire jobs. โ€” โ€” โ€”
Series 0025 Park Ranger National Park Service rangers. A handful also pull wildland-fire duty. โ€” โ€” โ€”
Series 0081 Fire Protection & Prevention Mostly building/structure firefighters on military bases โ€” not the wildland fire line. โ€” โ€” โ€”
Series 2151 Dispatching The people who coordinate crews, engines, and aircraft by radio. Support role, not on the fire line. โ€” โ€” โ€”

"Open now" and pay are the wildland-fire jobs we track in series 0456 and 0462 (the other rows just explain the codes). Pay shown is base pay only from currently open postings; overtime and hazard pay during fire season are on top. Job data refreshes hourly from USAJOBS. See how much wildland firefighters make once overtime, hazard, and incident pay are added.

Fire-crew terms, decoded

Engine crew
Firefighters who work off a fire engine โ€” pumping water and hose lays. Common first job.
Hand crew
A 20-person crew that digs fire line by hand with tools. The classic entry point.
Hotshot
An elite, highly-trained hand crew sent to the toughest parts of big fires.
Helitack
Crews flown to fires by helicopter for fast initial attack.
Fuels
Work that reduces "fuel" (brush, dead trees) before it can burn โ€” often prescribed burns.
Prescribed burn
A planned, controlled fire set on purpose to clear fuel and lower wildfire risk.
Dispatch
The radio coordinators who send crews, engines, and aircraft where they're needed.
FMO
Fire Management Officer โ€” a senior leader who runs a unit's fire program.

Hiring comes in waves

Each bar is one day over the last 12 months: how many federal wildland fire jobs were open. The high was 174 open at once in August. If today (the dark green bar) looks quiet, that's normal โ€” most of next summer's jobs post between late summer and January, so that's the window to be ready for.

Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul

Counted from each announcement's posted open and close dates (job codes 0456 + 0462), so it can differ slightly from today's live count above.