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Alaska Wildland Firefighter Jobs

Since 2016, 869 wildland firefighter jobs have been posted across Alaska — and 178 were entry-level (no experience needed). Here's where the crews are and how to pick one.

1 job open in Alaska right now (0 entry-level) →

When they hire

Most Alaska jobs get posted in September, November, February. Federal fire hiring runs in the fall and winter for the next summer — so apply early, months before fire season.

Who hires

  • Forest Service (431)
  • Bureau of Land Management (343)
  • National Park Service (57)
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (26)

Crew types posted

  • Smokejumpers (109)
  • Dispatch (76)
  • Hotshot crew (72)
  • Helitack (32)
  • Fuels / Rx fire (30)

The types of crews — what they do & how big

Typical crew sizes and duties (general fire-world norms, not specific to one posting).

Hotshot crew · 20-person crew

Hike into the toughest, most remote parts of big fires and cut fireline by hand.

Not entry-level Usually 1–2+ seasons on a crew first; very competitive.

Smokejumpers · elite; a few bases

Parachute into remote fires that crews can't reach by road.

Not entry-level At least one full fire season to apply; most have several.

Helitack · small modules

Get flown to fires by helicopter for fast initial attack.

Not entry-level Usually a season or two on the ground first.

Engine crew · 3–10 per engine

Drive fire engines to the fire, pump water, and run hose lays.

✅ Entry-level No experience needed — a classic first job.

Hand crew · ~18–20 per crew

Dig fireline by hand with tools.

✅ Entry-level No experience needed — the classic first job.

Fuels / Rx fire · varies

Thin brush and run planned (prescribed) burns to cut wildfire risk before it starts.

✅ Entry-level Entry-level seasonal roles are common.

Dispatch · support role

Coordinate crews, engines, and aircraft by radio — off the fire line.

Not entry-level A support role — usually needs some fire or dispatch experience.

Where the crews are in Alaska

The towns that hire most. "Entry-level per year" is the typical number of no-experience roles posted in a normal season — your best read on how many spots there are and how many other rookies you'd be with.

↓ Skip to the 1 job open now in Alaska

Fairbanks, Alaska

393 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 6 entry-level spots a year (50 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in September, November, February — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

2
'18
5
'19
5
'20
3
'21
4
'22
5
'23
12
'24
7
'25
7
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Smokejumpers — parachute into remote fires that crews can't reach by road. At least one full fire season to apply; most have several.
  • Hotshot crew — hike into the toughest, most remote parts of big fires and cut fireline by hand. Usually 1–2+ seasons on a crew first; very competitive.
  • Dispatch — coordinate crews, engines, and aircraft by radio — off the fire line. A support role — usually needs some fire or dispatch experience.
  • Helitack — get flown to fires by helicopter for fast initial attack. Usually a season or two on the ground first.

Moose Pass, Alaska

141 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 4 entry-level spots a year (35 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in September, November, February — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

3
'18
3
'19
3
'20
2
'21
5
'22
9
'23
4
'24
3
'25
3
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Hotshot crew — hike into the toughest, most remote parts of big fires and cut fireline by hand. Usually 1–2+ seasons on a crew first; very competitive.

Juneau, Alaska

126 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 4 entry-level spots a year (31 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in September, November, February — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

0
'18
2
'19
4
'20
3
'21
5
'22
5
'23
4
'24
4
'25
4
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Dispatch — coordinate crews, engines, and aircraft by radio — off the fire line. A support role — usually needs some fire or dispatch experience.
  • Helitack — get flown to fires by helicopter for fast initial attack. Usually a season or two on the ground first.

Ketchikan, Alaska

81 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 2 entry-level spots a year (18 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in September, November, February — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

1
'18
4
'19
3
'20
2
'21
3
'22
0
'23
2
'24
2
'25
1
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Dispatch — coordinate crews, engines, and aircraft by radio — off the fire line. A support role — usually needs some fire or dispatch experience.
  • Helitack — get flown to fires by helicopter for fast initial attack. Usually a season or two on the ground first.

Wrangell, Alaska

76 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 3 entry-level spots a year (27 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in September, November, February — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

2
'18
2
'19
4
'20
1
'21
7
'22
5
'23
2
'24
2
'25
2
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Hotshot crew — hike into the toughest, most remote parts of big fires and cut fireline by hand. Usually 1–2+ seasons on a crew first; very competitive.
  • Helitack — get flown to fires by helicopter for fast initial attack. Usually a season or two on the ground first.

Thorne Bay, Alaska

73 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 3 entry-level spots a year (28 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in September, November, February — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

6
'18
2
'19
4
'20
1
'21
4
'22
3
'23
3
'24
2
'25
3
'26

Girdwood, Alaska

73 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 3 entry-level spots a year (16 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in September, November, February — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

2
'18
2
'19
2
'20
2
'21
8
'22
0
'23
0
'24
0
'25
0
'26

Anchorage, Alaska

72 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 1 entry-level spot a year (7 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in September, November, February — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

0
'18
0
'19
0
'20
0
'21
2
'22
1
'23
1
'24
2
'25
1
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Dispatch — coordinate crews, engines, and aircraft by radio — off the fire line. A support role — usually needs some fire or dispatch experience.
  • Helitack — get flown to fires by helicopter for fast initial attack. Usually a season or two on the ground first.

Petersburg, Alaska

69 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 5 entry-level spots a year (27 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in September, November, February — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

4
'18
2
'19
7
'20
3
'21
9
'22
0
'23
2
'24
0
'25
0
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Helitack — get flown to fires by helicopter for fast initial attack. Usually a season or two on the ground first.

Cordova, Alaska

55 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 3 entry-level spots a year (16 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in September, November, February — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

2
'18
2
'19
4
'20
2
'21
6
'22
0
'23
0
'24
0
'25
0
'26

Denali Park, Alaska

37 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 2 entry-level spots a year (13 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in September, November, February — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

0
'18
0
'19
0
'20
1
'21
1
'22
1
'23
5
'24
2
'25
3
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Helitack — get flown to fires by helicopter for fast initial attack. Usually a season or two on the ground first.

Craig, Alaska

35 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 2 entry-level spots a year (13 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in September, November, February — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

4
'18
2
'19
2
'20
1
'21
2
'22
0
'23
1
'24
0
'25
1
'26

Sitka, Alaska

34 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 3 entry-level spots a year (16 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in September, November, February — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

0
'18
2
'19
5
'20
4
'21
4
'22
0
'23
0
'24
0
'25
1
'26

Hoonah, Alaska

30 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 2 entry-level spots a year (6 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in September, November, February — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

0
'18
0
'19
2
'20
1
'21
2
'22
0
'23
1
'24
0
'25
0
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Hotshot crew — hike into the toughest, most remote parts of big fires and cut fireline by hand. Usually 1–2+ seasons on a crew first; very competitive.

Soldotna, Alaska

17 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 1 entry-level spot a year (7 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in September, November, February — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

1
'18
0
'19
0
'20
0
'21
1
'22
1
'23
1
'24
1
'25
2
'26

Bars count entry-level postings by fire season — the summer you'd work. Federal fire jobs are posted the fall and winter before (peak Aug–Oct), so each season's bar includes everything hired for that summer, not the calendar date it was posted. The "per year" figure averages complete seasons 2018–2026. Counts come from federal USAJOBS announcements; one regional announcement can list many towns, so these show how often a town appears — a strong signal of where the work is, not an exact headcount.

Alaska wildland firefighter jobs open right now

1 open posting in Alaska, live from USAJOBS.

Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Assistant Fire Management Officer) - Direct Hire Authority

Fairbanks, Alaska · Office of the Secretary of the Interior

$94,571–$122,951/yr GW-11 Apply by Jun 18

💰 ~$136K–$228K a season with overtime & hazard pay (est.)

View & Apply

Wildland firefighter jobs in other states

California (4 open) Idaho (2 open) Arizona (2 open) Utah (2 open) South Dakota (1 open, 1 entry-level) Texas (1 open) Oregon Montana Colorado Wyoming New Mexico Washington Nevada Minnesota Florida Virginia Michigan Tennessee North Carolina Mississippi Oklahoma Georgia Illinois Arkansas Missouri South Carolina Kentucky Wisconsin North Dakota Louisiana West Virginia Alabama Nebraska Pennsylvania Indiana New Hampshire Ohio Vermont Kansas

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