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Colorado Wildland Firefighter Jobs

Since 2016, 1,916 wildland firefighter jobs have been posted across Colorado — and 593 were entry-level (no experience needed). Here's where the crews are and how to pick one.

When they hire

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

Who hires

  • Forest Service (1,300)
  • Bureau of Land Management (301)
  • Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (127)
  • National Park Service (124)

Crew types posted

  • Hotshot crew (148)
  • Dispatch (121)
  • Helitack (120)
  • Fuels / Rx fire (93)
  • Engine crew (83)

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 Colorado

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.

Grand Junction, Colorado

432 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 20 entry-level spots a year (182 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, March — 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):

15
'18
21
'19
20
'20
16
'21
22
'22
32
'23
24
'24
14
'25
14
'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.
  • 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.

Montrose, Colorado

380 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 17 entry-level spots a year (159 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, March — 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):

11
'18
23
'19
21
'20
15
'21
18
'22
23
'23
23
'24
10
'25
12
'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.
  • 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.

Fort Collins, Colorado

369 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 16 entry-level spots a year (144 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, March — 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):

7
'18
22
'19
21
'20
13
'21
16
'22
23
'23
19
'24
13
'25
8
'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.
  • Dispatch — coordinate crews, engines, and aircraft by radio — off the fire line. A support role — usually needs some fire or dispatch experience.

Rifle, Colorado

351 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 14 entry-level spots a year (127 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, March — 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
20
'19
17
'20
11
'21
15
'22
15
'23
13
'24
14
'25
13
'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.
  • 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.

Salida, Colorado

338 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 15 entry-level spots a year (137 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, March — 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):

12
'18
18
'19
14
'20
11
'21
19
'22
18
'23
16
'24
16
'25
13
'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.

Dolores, Colorado

334 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 14 entry-level spots a year (133 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, March — 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):

10
'18
22
'19
21
'20
11
'21
15
'22
17
'23
14
'24
9
'25
9
'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.

Silverthorne, Colorado

331 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 12 entry-level spots a year (112 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, March — 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):

8
'18
16
'19
14
'20
11
'21
17
'22
15
'23
11
'24
10
'25
10
'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.

Steamboat Springs, Colorado

320 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 13 entry-level spots a year (122 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, March — 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):

13
'18
17
'19
16
'20
9
'21
13
'22
19
'23
13
'24
6
'25
10
'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.

Gunnison, Colorado

320 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 14 entry-level spots a year (132 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, March — 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):

9
'18
19
'19
19
'20
11
'21
14
'22
24
'23
18
'24
7
'25
9
'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.

Canon City, Colorado

312 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 12 entry-level spots a year (110 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, March — 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):

8
'18
17
'19
10
'20
7
'21
10
'22
14
'23
15
'24
13
'25
14
'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.

Walden, Colorado

285 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 13 entry-level spots a year (118 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, March — 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):

11
'18
16
'19
16
'20
10
'21
16
'22
19
'23
11
'24
9
'25
7
'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.

Woodland Park, Colorado

283 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 13 entry-level spots a year (121 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, March — 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):

11
'18
14
'19
15
'20
8
'21
14
'22
14
'23
14
'24
15
'25
14
'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.

Pagosa Springs, Colorado

257 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 12 entry-level spots a year (113 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, March — 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):

12
'18
21
'19
18
'20
9
'21
13
'22
14
'23
10
'24
7
'25
8
'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.

Bayfield, Colorado

250 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 11 entry-level spots a year (104 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, March — 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
18
'19
19
'20
10
'21
11
'22
15
'23
8
'24
9
'25
7
'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.

Yampa, Colorado

249 postings since 2016

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 10 entry-level spots a year (94 in all since 2016).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, September, March — 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):

9
'18
16
'19
11
'20
9
'21
12
'22
15
'23
8
'24
7
'25
7
'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.

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.

Colorado wildland firefighter jobs open right now

No Colorado jobs are open this minute — federal fire postings come in waves (mostly fall and winter). Browse all open jobs, or check back soon.

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) Alaska (1 open) Texas (1 open) Oregon Montana 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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